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Posts Tagged ‘berkey water filter’
Berkey Water Filters Versus The “Alternative” Choice
Monday, November 21st, 2011A couple months ago a product advertising itself as the “Alternative” to Berkey began advertising. They directly compared their product to the berkey water filter products and made many claims that piqued our interest. It also resulted in some existing and potential customers asking for our opinion and feedback on this new “Alternative” gravity water filter system. Today, the manufacturer has responded to these inquiries and has just released an early hands-on analysis of the product. Please read below.
There is a “New” filter being advertised as the “Alternative Choice” to the Big Berkey water filter system so we thought we would put this “new” system to a couple of what we consider to be critical tests. The first test we conducted was a flow rate test. This is what we found:
Berkey vs “Alternative” Flow Rate Test
A fully configured four element Big Berkey water filter system can produce up to 7 gallons per hour of purified water.[1] By comparison this fully configured “alternate” system only holds two filter elements (the large diameter of the elements precludes the system from accommodating more than two elements).[2][3] The “Alternative” system when full only produces 80 ounces per hour. However, the flow rate rapidly decreases as the water level declines. For example, when 70% full, the flow rate declines to approximately 62 ounces per hour. At 50% full the flow rate declines to about 44 ounces per hour and at 1/3 full the flow rate drops to a trickle of about 26 ounces per hour (Approximately 5 hours to produce a gallon of water). Averaging out the above rates, one would expect a typical run cycle to produce an average of 53 ounces per hour. This is an average of one gallon of water produced every 2 1/2 hours.
Let’s do an economic comparison. Assuming the “Alternative” system is topped off continually, it can produce about 15 gallons per day whereas a fully configured Big Berkey water filter system can produce about 168 gallons per day. Therefore it takes over eleven (11) of the “Alternative” systems to produce as much water as one Big Berkey water filter system equipped with 4 black berkey filters. Here’s an economic breakdown if we were to base our purchase upon the system flow rate.
Cost of “Alternative” system: $239 X 11 = $2,629.00
Cost of Big Berkey water filter equipped with 4 black berkeys: $358.00
Big Berkey system savings: $2,271.00
Berkey vs “Alternative” Chemical Removal Test
The second test we conducted was designed to validate the claims that the “Alternative” filters have a lifespan equal to that of the Black Berkey purification elements. This test is designed to overwhelm the elements with a chemical contaminate in order to determine at what point a chemical breakthrough occurs. We added chlorine (Clorox) to the water but found that we could not complete the test because after approximately 1-1/4 cups of Clorox had been filtered through the “Alternative” filters, they began to break down. After 1-1/4 cups of Clorox had been purified through the Black Berkey elements, they continued to maintain their effectiveness.
We then decided to compare their respective performance filtering the same water. To do this we inserted both of the test elements, side by side, into a Berkey Light water filter housing and added an additional cup of Clorox to the pre-filtered source water. We also quarantined the water from the “Alternate” filter element from that of the Black Berkey purification element by inserting a canning jar under the effluent stem of the “Alternate” filter. Below is what we found:
Early In The Berkey vs “Alternative” Test
The “Alternative” filter excreted black inky solution (above)
A Close Up of The Black Ink-Like Solution (above)
The “Alternative” filter is having a hard time keeping up with the flow rate of the Black Berkey purification element. Note how the Black Berkey purification element is filling up the entire diameter of the lower chamber while the “Alternative” filter element is only filling up the jar.
Midway Through The Berkey vs “Alternative” Test
As the water level in the upper chamber declined, the flow rate of the “Alternative” began losing more and more ground to the water level, produced by the Black Berkey purification element, inside the larger diameter housing.
End Of Berkey vs “Alternative” Test
The Black Berkey element continued to purify the contaminated water whereas the “Alternative” filter ran slow and continued to excrete a black inky solution.
"Alternative" Filter on the Left (Black Drip Forming); Black Berkey on the Right (above)
"Alternative" Filter Black Ink Drip Releasing on the Left; Black Berkey on the Right (above)
Which Water Filter System Would You Choose?
Final Test Results (above)
"Alternative" Filtered Water on Left; Black Berkey Filtered Water on Right (above)
The above pictures again highlight both the difference in flow rates and the quality of water produced by the “Alternative” (Left) filter and the Black Berkey purification element (Right) after approximately two cups of Clorox had been filtered through the elements. During an emergency, such as Katrina, in which source water may be laden with heavy chemical contamination, which water filter system would you choose?
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS AND SUMMARY:
• The Berkey water filter system can be primed, set up and begin purifying water in about 20 minutes; whereas the “Alternative” system must be conditioned for two days prior to use. [4]
• The 2 day conditioning process cannot be accelerated by priming the “Alternative” filter elements. When we attempted to do so, the filter broke, causing the element to explode.
• The wall thickness of the Black Berkey elements is approximately 60% greater than the wall thickness of the “Alternative” element.
• The Black Berkey purification elements remove viruses whereas the “Alternative” filter element does not.
• The flow rate of the system is only about 1/11th of the flow rate of a BK4X4BB. [5]
• When performing a Chlorine test, the elements began excreting a black inky solution.
• The claim is made that the new system is NSF certified, yet NSF has no record of their certification. [6]
• Relevant test data is not available for the “Alternative” system.
• Rather than using the expensive plasma welding on the 304 stainless steel housing, which also gives Berkey systems their beautiful mirror like lustrous shine and longevity, the housings use a low cost deep drawn method that make a tinny sound when thumped.
• The foot ring on the bottom of the system is a low-cost plastic, instead of rubber, that falls off and does not snug tightly to the system.
If you purchased an “Alternative Choice” filter and are not satisfied with its performance, you may be able to return it for a refund. If not, there is no reason to fret because Black Berkey purification elements can replace the filters in the “Alternative” systems. Thus, you can upgrade your system with the power of authentic Black Berkey purification elements.
FOOT NOTES:
[1] Fully configured Big Berkey water filter water purification system contains 4 Black Berkey purification elements.
[2] Fully configured “Alternative” system contains “alternative” filtration elements.
[3] Literature and website claim expansion to 3 elements. System obtained for test purposes did not physically allow this expansion. The elements were too wide at the base to allow claimed full expansion.
[4] Based on assembly instructions which stated: “…fill the upper container fully with cold or room temperature water. Allow all water to flow into the lower container. Open the spigot and
discard the water in the lower container. Let your system stand unused overnight. Refill upper chamber and repeat…” In other words, “alternative” system would not be available in an emergency situation until 48 hours after set-up.
[5] No flow rate is established on “alternative” website or literature.
[6] Claims NSF 42 certification – no such listing appears on NSF website using any combination of the “alternative” name or parent corporation.
California Sues Over Bottled Water Greenwashing
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011Under a new environmental marketing law, the state of California filed a lawsuit this week against two bottled water companies and a plastic bottle supplier for false environmental claims, something known as “greenwashing.” Bottled water companies Aquamantra and Balance Water and bottle supplier ENSO Plastics have been marketing their water bottles as “100 percent biodegradable and recyclable,” but California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris says they are neither.
“Plastic takes thousands of years to biodegrade and may never do so in a landfill,” explains Harris’s press release about the lawsuit. ”Californians are committed to recycling and protecting the environment, but these efforts are undermined by the false and misleading claims these companies make when they wrongly advertise their products as ‘biodegradable,’” charges Harris. The lawsuit aims to remove thousands of bottles of Aquamantra and Balance Water from store shelves immediately because of the potential for litter and for contamination problems for plastic recycling programs around the state.
Aquamantra Water Bottle
Plastic water bottles are not biodegradable
Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste explained to the Silicone Valley Mercury News why the attorney general is right that ENSO Plastics don’t really decompose the way natural materials do and, therefore, are not truly biodegradable. “We are not adding nutrients to the soil when these things break down,” Murray said. “We are simply breaking the plastic into smaller and smaller pieces so it can’t be seen.”
Plastic water bottles with biodegradable additives cause problems for plastic recycling programs
Microbial additives, such as those in ENSO Plastics, can wreck havoc on plastic recycling, which is why NAPCOR, the National Association of PET Container Resources, opposes their use completely.
“Even in small percentages, like one-tenth of one percent, these are just catastrophic for us,” Ed Byrne, CEO of Peninsula Packaging in Visalia told the Mercury News. ”They melt at different temperatures. They ruin our products.”
Balance Water Bottle
Plastic water bottles falsely advertised as biodegradable could cause more litter
If Aquamantra and Balance Water customers believe the advertising claims made by the companies, they may think that the bottles will break down in the environment. But these are not banana peels or corncobs, natural materials that are truly biodegradable. Plastic litter is a significant threat to marine animals and the environment and these bottles, if disposed of improperly, could make those problems worse.
If plastic isn’t a good choice, what’s the eco-conscious water drinker to do?
The truly eco-friendly way to ensure pure water on the go is to filter your own. We recommend a Berkey water filter and then carrying it in your own BPA free reusable bottle. We’ve recently discussed how consumers of commercial bottled water have no assurance that they are getting the purity they are paying for anyway.
Greenwashing by companies is just one more reason to avoid buying bottled water. Check out our post on choosing the right Berkey water filter for you.
Buying Bottled Water - Do You Know What You’re Getting?
Thursday, October 27th, 2011When reaching out for a bottle of water in a supermarket you expect to get a safe, high value drink that replenishes your bodily fluids and supplies the organism with valuable minerals. But is this always the case? The truth may surprise you.
Nowadays, consumers have become more and more aware of their rights and have requested manufacturers to provide information that enable them to make good choices. Surprisingly, the bottled water industry finds this already established trend difficult to accept and follow.
As bottled water can cost up to 1,900 times more than tap water, is it too much too expect to be well-informed on the product? What is the water’s origin? Has it been purified? If so, what techniques have been used in this process? Has it been tested for quality? Have the tests found any contaminants? In many cases this basic information is difficult to find on the label or on the producer’s website.
EWG’s Bottled Water Study
Environmental Working Group (EWG) carries out an annual survey on the level of transparency of information among the bottled water brands in the United States. In 2011 the group has reviewed 173 bottled water products and compared the results with those from the previous year.
It has turned out, that nine of the best-selling brands, including Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Nestle, do not answer at least one of the above questions. The survey results have revealed that 18% of the products do not provide the location of water source, 32% of brands do not disclose any information on the treatment or quality of water, and 13% of product are supported by ‘water quality reports’ that lack actual testing results.
Comparing the results with previous year findings, very slow progress was noticed. Over 50% of the surveyed brands did not improve, or even worse, included less information than in 2010. Only 39 brands scored better in information transparency in 2011 versus 2010. Even the best scored brads were not faultless. Believe it or not, some of them provided out dated water tests from 2008!
Bottled Water Vs Tap Water
It may be a surprise, but most companies producing bottled water source it from municipal tap (Food and Water Watch data). Moreover, the plastic material used for making bottles may incorporate chemical substances like BPA (Bisphenol A) that can leach into drinking water.
According to federal regulations bottled water is not much safer than tap water, as the chemical pollution standards are almost the same. As so many bottled water producers keep information on water quality to themselves, it is possible that most of the time you are paying for bottled tap water without even knowing it.
In addition to water quality arguments, there are serious environmental reasons for giving up bottled water. Between 2004 and 2009 the consumption of bottled water in the United States increased by 24%. It is estimated that every 27 hours U.S. citizens drink enough bottled water to circle the equator with empty bottles and each year more than 4 million of plastic containers go to the landfill nationwide. These are not good statistics!
Producing bottled water also has a high carbon footprint price – it takes 20,000 times more energy to produce bottled water than the same amount of tap water. In the United States, the production and transportation of bottled water is responsible for the level of CO2 emission comparable to that produced by two million cars.
Drink Filtered Tap Water
What are EWG’s recommendations then? Their main call is: Drink Filtered Tap Water.
A good quality domestic filter system lasts over 10 years. It can save you money and allow you to do your part in contributing to a cleaner environment. There is a wide variety of water filter systems that can be used indoors, outdoors or even during travelling. Good quality systems successfully remove bacteria, chlorine, organic solvents, VOCs, lead, mercury, nitrates and nitrites as well as other harmful substances. We believe the berkey water filter provides the highest quality filtration for the lowest initial and ongoing maintenance costs. There is also a different berkey water filter model available to accommodate every family size. Here’s a comparison of berkey and other top consumer water filters on the market. Regardless of what model or supplier you choose, they should provide you with detailed system specifications and ongoing maintenance costs estimates, so you will know exactly what you will be paying for.
A Disturbing Story About What One Customer Found In Her Drinking Water
Thursday, August 18th, 2011Recently a bigberkeywaterfilters.com customer contacted us to share a disturbing story of what she found in her drinking water. Please read below to see the side by side similarities of what was in her water and what sufferers of Morgellons disease are reporting to be finding in their body.
This is about what I found in my tap water, in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. After much research, I knew Berkey was the system for me and I phoned to order it. That’s when I met Dan. He listened attentively and answered every question. I offered to send some photos, and when he saw them, he invited me to share my story here.
I am so thankful that my Berkey filters out what you’re about to see. My household filtration system filters out particulates >25 microns in size. The Berkey catches things that are smaller than that. After having the Berkey for three weeks, it was totally clogged! (Normal maintenance is to clean it every six months.) The elements were scrubbed and it works just fine again. I love my Berkey!! Thank you, Dan!!
It all began when I was making hummingbird solution - boil the water, let it cool, add sugar. In the past, I’d seen “floating matter” on the water, but thought it must be from the sugar. But this time, I got busy and the water cooled longer than usual, and I hadn’t added the sugar yet. I was horrified at what I saw.
Fig. 1 - Water After Boiling and Cooling
Fig. 1a - Water Sample, Under Microscope, 10X
Please note that without the clear glass pot, sitting directly under 4 bright halogen lights, this stuff is not nearly as visible. And in stainless pots, it is extremely hard to see because of the metal’s reflection. I thoroughly cleaned the pot and tried again, with a lid on the whole time. The same thing happened. Hot, cold, from the outdoor faucet - it didn’t matter. Some of these particles dissolve with vinegar or muriatic acid - they’re minerals. But, as you’ll see, it’s not all minerals.
I even tried my neighbor’s water, and her’s was worse than mine. Ironically, the first year of her son’s life was spent constantly seeing doctors, for chronic skin problems. No one could determine what it was, the cause, or how to successfully treat it. Finally, she was told to only bathe him every 2 or 3 days. He is older now and still seeing doctors - now, for chronic infections. I don’t know if it’s connected to our water supply, but it’s worth mentioning.
I can duplicate these outcomes over and over, and have hundreds of photos. I tested bottled water and it did not contain these particulates. But, there are many good reasons not to use bottled water. Berkey was the very best answer to my dilemma, and it also tests clean under my microscope.
Calling the city water department, and eventually the wastewater treatment plant was a lengthy, grueling exercise in futility. It wasn’t fun, and I’ll spare you the details. None of it really mattered though, because the control and responsibility is the EPA’s. The people I was dealing with couldn’t do anything even if they wanted to.
Annual water reports assure us our water is clean, but they don’t even test for particulates. When I asked about virus and pathogen testing, I was told to contact the health department. So, our water guys pretty much concentrate on bacteria.
They knew little-to-nothing about the micron-sized and/or nanotechnology that is now in our air, water soil, food and bodies. Here’s a recent article on a California class-action suit related to damaged water, soil and health. The article also addresses the illness called Morgellons.
This is a recent CDC conference: Preventing Adverse Health Effects from Nanotechnology (Q&A begins at approx 49 minutes) They say it will be 10 years before they can even agree on the metrics to address these issues, and only then will any type of regulation begin to be addressed.
By the looks of the water, we can’t afford 10 years. I would send them my photos and story, but many others have tried. Just like my local water people, the EPA and CDC apparently aren’t interested. Here is an excerpt from Wiki on the subject of airborne particles:
Fig. 2 - From Wiki: EPA - Very Fine Airborne Particulates
Below are microscope photos of my water, which was already filtered by the household filtration system. Also below are photos (with captions underneath from a long-time Moregellons researcher, Jan Smith) that appear similar to mine. Our photos appear similar, however they are actually what Morgellons sufferers have removed, or expelled, from their bodies. Texas has more Morgellons cases reported than any other state, except California, and Florida is third. It is now being found in other countries, as well. Music celebrity, Joni Mitchell, is speaking out about her Morgellons illness also.
It’s worth noting that (by popular demand) the CDC did a very small Morgellons study with Kaiser Permanente several years ago, to be completed in a year. At the end of the first year, the deadline for releasing the results was extended. Again and again, it was extended for several years. Around the third year, they announced that the study had been transferred to the Army pathology people. No study results have been publicly released, to-date.
These photos are presented solely for educational purposes, are not intended to frighten anyone, and perhaps will inspire others to do their own research. What’s in our water? And in us?
Fig. 3 - Blue and Clear Fibers, from My Water
Fig. 3a - Blue Fiber Close-Up, from My Water. It appears to contain a blue liquid with air bubbles, sometimes called the “Payload,” intended for a specific target. Used in medical research and treatment, and other commercial areas.
Fig. 3b - Blue and Clear Fibers, from a Morgellons Sufferer
Crystal fibers are usually found in groups. 200x
Crystal fibers found with a round blue fiber. 200x
Fig. 4 - Fiber Bundle, from My Water
Fig. 4a - Fiber Bundle, from a Morgellons Sufferer
Another view of a different section of the crystal fibers. Note how clear, rounded and smooth they look. 200x
Here is the same bundle of crystal fibers at the end the tweezers held. I quickly adhered it to clear tape. 200x
Fig. 5 - Particulate Matter, from My Water
Fig. 5a - Matter from Morgellons person’s skin, which grows subdermal “tentacles” and tubules, and is very painful to remove
This bottom portion of a "plumpy" tentacle. Separated tentacles.
Top portion of "plumpy" tentacle is portion visible on skin. It has fibers and tubules and is tough like a wart. 200xFig. 6 - Fiber and Rounded Matter, from Water.
Fig. 6 - Fiber and Rounded Matter, from My Water
Fig. 6a - Close-Up of Rounded Piece of Matter in Fig. 6, from My Water
Fig 6b - Rounded Matter, Referred to as “Pods,” from a Morgellons Sufferer
Larger unopened pod. 200x
Large pod with some fibers pushing out on right side. 200x
Fig. 7 - Transparent “Chip,” from My Water
Fig. 7a - Transparent “Chip” with Attached Wirey Fiber, from My Water
Fig 7b - “Pod” with Blue Fiber, from Morgellons Sufferer. Somewhat like the “Chip” in Figure 7a.
Pod: Small new pod with fibers protruding. 60x
Pod: Small pod with hints of color on the outside. 60x
Fig. 8 - Circular Object on My Water’s Surface (left side of photo). I dipped a slide in to try and get this specimen (shown in Fig. 8a) without disturbing it.
Fig. 8a - The Circular Object, now on microscope slide. The spiraled part is on the slide and the extending part is hanging over the slide’s edge. I have video of the extending part waving in the air, with fully animated movement.
Fig. 8b - Spiraled “Hair” of a Morgellons Sufferer. Often times with Morgellons, the organic hair is pushed out and fiber grows back in its place. Is this photo of real hair or fiber?
The Morgellons hairs sometimes become ingrown in the lesions. This one has a dark spot of something in the middle of the goo. 200x
Here is the ingrown hair with the goo removed. It is a perfect spiral. 200x
Fig. 8c - Hair That Doesn’t Burn, from a Morgellons Sufferer. This hair was long and straight. When flame was applied to one end, it turned upward and coiled up as if in defense. It only became charred, not burned. No familiar odor of burning (organic) hair was present, either.
This unusual photo is not a pretzel gone wild. It is a burn experiment on a strand of hair belonging to a southern lady. 200x
This strand of hair was 2 feet long and twisted itself in a knot to avoid the flame. Holes formed in the hair and dark material came out after burning. 200x
Fig. 9 - Transparent Fibers with Attached Flat Disks and Diamond, from My Water. Note the flat piece in upper right, the small diamond shape in middle, and the flat piece in lower left.
Fig. 9a - Close-Up of Bottom-Left Flat Piece from Fig. 9. It appears to be in the process of forming a hexagonal shape.
Fig. 9b - Hexagon Connected to Fiber, from a Morgellons Sufferer’s Body.
Fig. 9c - Hexagons that Have Come from Morgellons Sufferers’ Skin.
Here is a hex crystal. 60x
This clear hexagon was like glass. (silica) 200x
Fig. 9d - More Hexagons from Morgellons Sufferers.
This is a hex crystal. It looked a different color at every angle. 60x
Here is the same hex crystal as above on a flat surface. It now looks purple, I also have photos of it with a green hue. 200x
Fig. 9e - Hexagon from Morgellons Sufferer’s Skin.
Fig. 9f - Close-Up of Diamond Shape from Water, taken from middle area of Fig. 9.
Fig. 9g - Diamond-Shaped “Crystal,” from a Morgellons Sufferer.
Fig. 10 - Microscopic Views of City Water, from Dr. Emoto.
Excellent Links for More Information:
Water, Consciousness & Intent: Dr. Masaru Emoto
Water Is Life - Dr. Masaru Emoto
What In The World Are They Spraying?
Pilot Films a Plane During Aerosolized Spraying
Weather Warfare - from the History Channel
Morgellons Photo Collection - All photos with a caption directly underneath are used from this Morgellons website.
Fig. 11 - Samples of Airborne Webs, from Coast-to-Coast AM Radio Show
Please e-mail me at dan@bigberkeywaterfilters.com if you like to be put in contact with this customer.
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
A Stainless or Plastic Berkey Water Filter?
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011Should I choose a stainless berkey water filter, like the Big Berkey or Royal Berkey, or should I choose a plastic system, like the Berkey Light? This is one of the more common Berkey questions that gets asked by our customers. The answer is… well there is no right answer. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of systems and the customer’s final decision will depend upon where their priorities lie. Below are the 6 major factors one should consider.
- Appearance - Many consider the stainless to be a “sharper” looking system. If you have a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, the stainless system will most likely match better than the plastic. However, the plastic system provides a visual experience allowing the customer to watch each drop of filtration take place. Many customers enjoy this. Advantage: Stainless Berkey Water Filter
- Cost - The stainless is more expensive simply due to the raw materials used. Steel costs more than plastic. However the housing is the only difference between the two types of systems, and filtration quality is exactly the same. Here’s the unit cost per gallon for 3 comparable systems: Berkey Light (2.75 gal) = $84/gal, Big Berkey (2.25 gal) = $115/gal, Royal Berkey (3.25 gal) = $102/gal. As you can see, you get the most gallon for your money with the berkey light plastic version. Advantage: Plastic Berkey Water Filter
- Viewable Water Level - One advantage of the Berkey Light is that you are able to see the level of water simply by taking a quick glance. This helps you know when it’s time to add more water to the upper chamber for filtering. The stainless systems, being opaque, do not have this advantage. However, we do sell an upgraded spigot called the waterview spigot. This has a tube indicator that shows where the water level is, very similar to the waterview spigots used on large tea and coffee containers found at restaurants, hotels, receptions, etc. Advantage: Plastic Berkey Water Filter
- Portability - The upper chamber of the stainless system flips upside down and nests into the lower chamber of the system. This reduces it’s size for traveling by about 35%. The berkey light does not have this nesting capability and thus is a little bulkier to transport. Advantage: Stainless Berkey Water Filter
- Durability - Both system are designed to be durable. The berkey light is made of a tough plastic and we have many customers who are using their original system purchased more than 10 years ago when it debuted. The stainless is a smidge thinner than a stainless steel pot, but would dent if dropped or took a direct blow from an object. Similarly, many customers are using their original stainless system they purchased 15+ years ago. Advantage: Neither
- Safety - Both the stainless steel and the plastic used for the berkey light are made with food grade material. The stainless steel used is a high quality 304 stainless steel and the plastic used is a non-BPA copolyester. Advantage: Neither
Regardless of your choice, we feel you will be happy with either berkey water filter option. We rarely have customers who contact us for a housing exchange, but since they are interchangeable, it should be known that this is also an option if you are unhappy with your decision. We would either refund or charge the difference between the two housings and then charge a warehouse-mandated 15% restocking fee for the returned system.
Announcement: Price Increase on Berkey Water Filter Products
Friday, April 15th, 2011Effective April 15th, 2011, the price on the majority of Berkey water filter products has been increased by the manufacturer. We we are required to reflect these changes, and on average it amounts to about a 4% increase. In addition, along with these changes, we are no longer permitted to offer free gift promotions with system purchases.
The reasons for the price increases are a result of the rise in raw material or input costs (in USD) used for building the Berkey product line. These raw materials are everything from the stainless steel, to the plastic, to the media used in the filters. The manufacturer believes the rise in raw material prices are a reflection of the quantitative easing program (QE2) currently underway by the Federal Reserve. In other words, the impact of this QE2 program is being seen in the way of broad inflation on all raw materials. The manufacturer states:
“New Millenium Concepts will be absorbing 50% of the increase in raw materials, and the other 50% has been added to the MSRP cost. If the Fed continues it’s quantitative easing program after June with a QE3 or something similar, we will likely be forced to raise MSRP prices soon thereafter”
It’s important to note that the manufacturer has not raised prices for over 10 years, and instead has found ways to drive costs out of the business to keep MSRP’s consistent. The difference between now and the last 10 years is simply the rate of which costs are rising are much faster than can be internally managed.
We at BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com hope that another price increase on any of the Berkey water filter products does not occur, but at the same time we are not confident in the US governments’ actions when it comes to handling inflation. We apologize for this action taken as we understand how critical every dollar we spend is nowadays.
Thanks
Dan DeBaun
Owner - Treehawk Health LLC dba BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com
Ann’s Helpful Hints For Berkey Water Filter Systems
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011As a proud member of the Berkey family for over 10 years, I’ve learned many tips and tricks that help customers with the initial setup and smooth lifelong use of their berkey water filter systems. Below are some of my top Berkey tips.
Priming Your Black Berkey Elements
When you first receive your black berkey elements or ceramic filters it is important to prime them. A priming button (large beige washer) is included in the box with each set of elements. Be sure to keep this some place safe so that you can re-prime your element if needed. ALWAYS USE PROTECTIVE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING YOUR BLACK BERKEY PURIFICATION ELEMENTS OR THE WHITE CERAMIC FILTERS.
To prime the elements, place the priming button on top of the threaded end of the element and place it firmly against your faucet. Turn the water on so that it is just a trickle. The water will go into the black element and the outside of the element will slowly bead up and around the element. When it has completely beaded up the element you can turn off the water and install the element into the Berkey water filter system.
Be sure to throw out the first 2-3 batches of water you put through the system so that the tap water used for priming is completely out of the elements.
Fore more details please read and watch our video: How to Prime the Black Berkey Filters for Use or Storage
Cleaning Your Black Berkey Elements
Once you install the black berkey or ceramic filters, the best thing you can do for them is just LEAVE THEM ALONE. The instructions state that you should clean your elements every six months with a scotch brite pad. I have found that to NOT be a good idea. Certainly, if they get a film on them you should rinse them off, but do not scrub them. This tends to clog them up. Instead, just leave them alone until they stop filtering or slow down so much that you are not getting very much water.
When and if they stop filtering, remove them and using a vegetable peeler, peel a thin layer all the way around the Black Berkey element and up to the top like you would a carrot. This will open them up, removing the layer of clogged material off the elements. You can then re-prime (only if needed) and re-install them into your Berkey water filter system.
Cleaning Your Berkey Chambers
Berkey Stainless Steel Canisters – Since you are most likely trying to reduce your chemical exposure, I recommend using natural cleansers to clean your bottom canister monthly. If you don’t have access to natural cleansers, just fill your bottom canister ¼ of the way up and add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Scrub thoroughly and empty the water through the spigot on your system. This will clean the calcium buildup off the spigot. Clean your bottom canister once a month. It is not necessary to clean the top canister, but if you choose to, be sure to remove the black elements before cleaning.
Berkey Light (Plastic) Canister - Always use a mild dishwashing detergent (preferably a natural cleanser) to clean your Berkey Light. Vinegar is too abrasive for plastic and will harm the system. Clean your bottom canister once a month. It is not necessary to clean the top canister, but if you choose to, be sure to remove the black elements before cleaning.
Red Food Coloring Test
Every 6 months, I recommend you test your Black Berkey elements with a simple red food coloring test. It is important to use only RED food coloring as the other colors have minerals in them and will not be removed from the water.
- If using the white PF-2 Arsenic/Fluoride filters, remove them from the system.
- Empty both canisters and in the bottom canister place cups or juice glasses so that the elements will drip into each cup. If possible, use a clear or white cup/glass. You will need 1 cup for each element in your system.
- Place the top canister so that each element will drip directly into the cup below.
- The amount of red food coloring to be used depends on the size of your system. If you have a 2 ¼ gallon Big Berkey you will need to use 2 teaspoons of red food coloring and place it in the top canister. If you have a 3 ¼ gallon Royal Berkey you would use 3 teaspoons of the food coloring.
- After putting in the correct amount of food coloring into the top canister, fill it up completely with water. The water will be very red. Allow the water to filter down into the cups for several inches until the cups are at least one half filled. Then discard the rest of the red water in the top canister.
- Remove the cups/glasses from the bottom canister. Make sure you know which element goes with each cup. The water in the cups/glasses should be clear. If you are using a clear cup/glass, put a piece of white paper behind the cup/glass to get a good reading on the color of the water.
- If the water is pink, the element for that cup/glass is breached and should be replaced.
- If the water is clear, your elements are doing their job perfectly.
- A video of this test can be seen here: The Black Berkey Red Food Coloring Test
Berkey Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Filters
For priming the PF-2 filters, I recommend priming from each side by at least 2 minutes to wash out as much manufacturing dust from the filter as possible. Also, once installed, it can take up to 10 full system flushes of water before all the cloudiness (manufacturing dust) has been rinsed from the water. Be patient as this will vary depending on the production run and dustiness of the granules used in the filter.
- To determine how long your fluoride filters will last depends on the quality of your water. Since the fluoride filters also remove arsenic and continue to reduce the heavy metals in your water they may not last 1,000 gallons for the set of 2. So don’t get upset if they don’t last as long as you expect, they are continuing to reduce other harmful things in your water.
- When the fluoride filters are used up you will find that they usually stop allowing any water into the bottom canister. If this happens just remove them and make sure your Black Berkey Purification Elements are working. If they are, you need to just replace the fluoride filters and you are ready to go.
Spigot Issues
If leaking occurs around the washers of the spigot, make sure you have washers on both sides of the stainless steel. (black inside, white outside for stainless systems) Tighten as much as you can and leave the spigot about 90 degrees out of phase. Then, grab onto the nut in the back with a wrench, and turn the spigot itself that last quarter turn using the spigot as leverage to get a tighter turn. If this is ineffective, please soak the washers in olive oil for approximately 1 hour. Sometimes the washers can dry out and get hard over time and the olive oil will soften them up allowing for a good seal.
One final tip to ensure you get the full life of your black berkey filters is to fill the upper chamber to the top (assuming lower chamber has the room for the water) every time. This will allow for the entire length of the filter to be put to use so that the media gets exhausted evenly. I hope this information is of help to every Berkey water filter system owner.
Ann
BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com
Professor Paul Connett Video On The Case Against Fluoride
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010Professor Paul Connett gives a great interview on the dangers of adding of fluoride to the public’s water supply, otherwise known as fluoridation. (4 part video below) He provides a history on the subject and reviews the serious health consequences associated with the practice that many still are unaware of.
Here’s an example from the interview:
On the back of your toothpaste it reads “If more than recommended amounts of toothpaste are accidentally swallowed, then get medical help or call a poison control center immediately.” Professor Connett converts how that warning would apply for fluoridated water;
- A pea sized amount of toothpaste contains approx 1/4 of a milligram of fluoride.
- US municipalities fluoridate at 1 PPM which converts to 1 milligram of fluoride per liter (33.8 Ounces).
- A 1/4 of a milligram of fluoride (the amount found in a pea sized amount of toothpaste) then equals about 1/4 liter of fluoridated water or 1 - 8 ounce glass of fluoridated water.
I use approximately 2 pea-sized dabs of toothpaste on my toothbrush. While I don’t use fluoride toothpaste, if I did, that would be equivalent to about 16 ounces of fluoridated water. So, does that mean if I consumed more than 16 ounces of water in one sitting I would need to call poison control if those same warning thresholds applied?
As the US is one of the only countries left that still fluoridates, it’s long overdue that policy makers re-examine and challenge water fluoridation in a fair scientific manner. Besides the video, and if you’d like to learn more, Professor Connett has also recently released a book titled The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There
For those who are new to the Berkey family, we do offer a fluoride water filter that goes in the lower chamber of any of our berkey water filter systems.
If you have a young child or are expecting, please take the time to watch this video in it’s entirety. It’s important to understand the heightened health risks newborns and infants face from fluoride exposure.
Part1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Berkey Water Filters vs Distillation
Thursday, November 11th, 2010In a follow up to our article Berkey water filters versus reverse osmosis systems, we will review a comparison of the Berkey systems and distillation systems. There are some similarities in the performance results of reverse osmosis and distillation, so we recommend you read the initial comparison first as a foundation to this article.
Beneficial Minerals in the Water
Just like reverse osmosis systems, distillation strips out the beneficial minerals from the water making it an acidic, “hypotonic” solution. To reiterate the danger of this, the repetitive drinking of mineral free water will cause a leeching of bodily minerals as part of the body’s natural mechanism to achieve homeostasis. Over time, depletion of minerals in the body will occur and can result in negative health consequences. We recommend adding a trace mineral supplement to the water post-distillation.
The Black Berkey filters that come standard with all our Berkey water filter systems are purposefully designed to leave the beneficial minerals in the water to avoid this dangerous cycle of body demineralization.
Power Required
Distillation requires power for the filtration process to occur. This will have an impact on your electricity bill, but also leave you stranded in the event of a power outage.
The Berkey water filters require no power to operate as they are gravity fed.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Distillation systems need to be soaked and cleaned with vinegar solution to remove the scale. The frequency of this cleaning will be determined by the mineral content of the water. This can range from cleaning the system after every other use to every other week.
The Black Berkey water filters last 6000 gallons per set of 2 and typically 5 years or more before replacement is needed. The fluoride filter needs to be replaced every 2 years or 1000 gallons. As for maintenance, we recommend washing the lower chamber of the system with soap and water once per month.
Cost
Not including cleaner costs, a typical distillation system will cost 35-50 cents per gallon to operate.
The Berkey water filter costs less than 2 cents per gallon and since it does not require electricity, there are no added energy costs.
Taste
Typically, the taste for distilled water is regarded as flat due to the lack of minerals in the water. This can be improved by added a trace mineral supplement to the water post-distillation.
The taste of Berkey water is regarded as very good unless there is an abundance of ionized minerals in the source water that negatively affect it. Our customers tell us daily how much they enjoy the taste of their berkey water.
Berkey Water Filters Vs Reverse Osmosis
Thursday, October 7th, 2010Frequently we have customers who ask us to explain some of the key differences between reverse osmosis systems and the berkey water filter systems. While there are many reverse osmosis systems on the market, in general they are similar in results and quality. Below we’ve broken out some comparison points between the two.
Beneficial Minerals in the Water
Reverse Osmosis systems strip out the beneficial minerals from the water making it an acidic, “hypotonic” solution. A hypotonic solution is a de-mineralized solution. This ultimately has impact on the body because when a hypotonic solution comes in contact with a hypertonic (mineralized) solution, equilibrium is sought. The hypertonic solution in this case is your body’s fluids which are full of minerals. Continuous drinking of a hypotonic solution results in minerals being transferred from your body’s blood and lymphatic system to this de-mineralized water and being flushed from your body. Over time, in an effort to re-mineralize itself, your body will begin to rob it’s organs and bones of these minerals. This continuous cycle will have a negative impact on bodily function unless there is sufficient minerals being taken in through food and supplements to counterbalance.
The black berkey filters that come standard with all our berkey water filter systems are purposefully designed to leave the beneficial minerals in the water to avoid this dangerous cycle of body demineralization.
On a related note, the large majority of the population does not get sufficient minerals from their food because it is nutritionally depleted. No matter what your source of water, or filtration choice, we recommend a high quality multi-vitamin on a daily basis. We stress high quality because many supplements on the market are created with low quality ingredients and are not designed synergistically, and thus are not absorbed or utilized by the body beneficially.
Pathogenic Bacteria Removal
Reverse osmosis systems do not remove pathogenic bacteria like e-coli and giardia. This is the reason why many reverse osmosis systems include an ultraviolet (UV) light designed to kill the bacteria. Sometimes however, if the water has a high turbidity, shaded spots in the water can prevent some of the bacteria from being exposed and killed. Also, if the UV light is installed prior to the bladder tank, it can allow for bacteria to colonize in the bladder tank itself. If this tank is not sterilized often, it becomes a source of bacterial contamination. One other important note is that the remains of dead bacteria remain in the filtered water of RO systems that use a UV light.
The berkey water filter removes the pathogenic bacteria to a log 7 degree and keeps it out of your drinking water. Log 7 equates to a 99.99999% bacteria removal rate.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Reverse Osmosis systems can have up to four filter elements, with each needing to be changed at differing intervals from four months up to two years. This replacement requires that the water pressure be shut off and part or all of the system be disassembled for maintenance. Additionally, the bladder tank should be washed with a chlorine solution at no longer than six-month intervals to kill any colonizing bacteria.
The black berkey water filters last 6000 gallons per set of 2 and typically 5 years or more before replacement is needed. The fluoride filter needs to be replaced every 2 years or 1000 gallons. As for maintenance, we recommend washing the lower chamber of the system with soap and water once per month.
Cost
A typical reverse osmosis system costs 20-65 cents per gallon.
The berkey water filter costs less than 2 cents per gallon and since it does not require electricity, berkey filters do not have added energy costs.
Taste
Typically, the taste for the reverse osmosis systems is very good.
Similarly, the taste of berkey water is also very good unless there is an abundance of ionized minerals in the source water. Our customers tell us daily how much they enjoy the taste of their berkey water.
