Clean water is not a luxury; it’s essential for our well being. Yet, drinking water often contains a cocktail of contaminants that can be harmful to our health and that of our loved ones. The type of pollutants that may be present can vary from place to place and from water source to water source. What may be found in one family's well water may not be the same as what's found in another family’s city water. Berkey water filters are independently tested and proven to remove over 200 common drinking water contaminants, delivering safe, great-tasting water wherever you are, giving you peace of mind that your water supply does not compromise your health.

In this article, we will answer the question: “What does a Berkey filter out?” by exploring some of the key contaminants that these filters remove.

Table of Contents

1. What impurities can a Berkey water filter remove?
2. What exactly does Berkey filter out?
   • Arsenic
   • BPA (Bisphenol A)
   • Cadmium
   • Chlorine and Disinfection Byproducts
   • Chromium-6
   • Fluoride
   • Glyphosate
   • Heavy Metals
   • Lead
   • Mercury
   • Nitrites
   • Pathogenic Microorganisms
   • Pesticides and Herbicides
   • Petroleum-Based Contaminants
   • PFAS (Forever Chemicals)
   • Pharmaceutical Drugs
   • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
3. Does a Berkey water filter also filter out beneficial minerals?
4. Why choose a Berkey water filter system?
5. FAQ

What Impurities Can a Berkey Water Filter Remove?

Independent lab tests have shown that a Berkey water filtration system fitted with the standard Black Berkey filter elements can remove up to 99.9% of hundreds of toxins, from heavy metals and VOCs to pathogens, while preserving beneficial minerals that your body needs. It filters biological hazards – such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoan parasites; chemical pollutants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and VOCs; and toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and aluminum.

Berkey's filtration system utilizes gravity-fed microfiltration and adsorptive carbon media to remove harmful substances while retaining essential minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

This ensures safe, clean drinking water without stripping away the natural goodness from your drinking water.

Read more about Berkey's testing process and its results.

What Exactly Does Berkey Filter Out?

From naturally occurring heavy metals to synthetic chemicals and industrial runoff, today's water supplies can contain a wide range of harmful contaminants. Berkey water filtration systems are designed to tackle these threats head-on, offering powerful filtration for peace of mind. Here’s a closer look at some of the most concerning pollutants Berkey filters remove, and why that matters to your health and safety:

Arsenic

Arsenic is a naturally occurring toxic element that can leach into groundwater from rocks, soil, or even industrial processes such as mining or pesticide use. Chronic exposure, even at low levels, is linked to skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Black Berkey filter elements remove over 99% of arsenic, and when paired with PF-2 Fluoride and arsenic filters in the lower chamber, the reduction rate is even higher, making it a good choice for those in high-arsenic areas.

Learn more: Do Berkey Filters Remove Arsenic?

BPA (Bisphenol A)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor that is used in the manufacture of certain plastics, including some drinking water bottles. BPA mimics hormones and can interfere with human development and reproductive health. Berkey filters remove over 99.9% of BPA, helping to ensure your water is free from this synthetic chemical.

Learn more: BPA Linked to Pre-term Births.

Cadmium

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that has been linked to kidney damage, skeletal disorders, and cancer. It often makes its way into water from industrial waste or corrosion of galvanized pipes. Berkey filters remove 99.7% of cadmium, offering vital protection against long-term exposure risks.

Chlorine and Disinfection Byproducts

While chlorine is used to disinfect public water supplies, it can leave an unpleasant taste and lead to the formation of harmful byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs) that are linked to cancer and reproductive issues. Berkey systems reduce chlorine and THMs, such as bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform, and dibromochloromethane, to undetectable levels, helping protect your health without compromising water purity. The Berkey shower filter also removes 95% of chlorine to improve skin, hair, and respiratory health.

Learn more: Does the Berkey Remove Chlorine and Chloramines from Your Water?

Chromium-6

Made infamous by the Erin Brockovich case and movie of the same name, chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) is a carcinogenic compound that can find its way into drinking water from industrial pollution. Berkey filters remove 99.8% of chromium-6, providing critical defense against this potent contaminant.

Learn more about the dangers associated with chromium 6, how it gets into drinking water, and why you should remove it.

Fluoride

Fluoride is intentionally added to many public water systems for dental health, but not everyone agrees on its safety — especially with growing concerns about overexposure. You can read about the debate raging over fluoride in drinking water here.

If you want to remove fluoride, a Berkey fluoride water filter fitted into the lower chamber of your system will remove up to 99.75% of fluoride from water, reducing your exposure to this contaminant.

Learn more: Do Berkey’s Remove Fluoride?

Glyphosate

This widely used herbicide (best known as the active ingredient in Roundup) has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. It enters water sources through agricultural runoff and can be difficult to remove. Berkey filters eliminate over 75% of glyphosate (the upper detection limit in lab testing equipment), providing meaningful reduction in exposure.

Learn more: Does Glyphosate Pose a Risk in Drinking Water?

Heavy Metals

Besides arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, Berkey filters remove a wide range of other heavy metals, including copper, iron, and manganese, while leaving beneficial minerals intact.

Choose the best heavy metal filter for your needs with our Heavy Metal Filter Guide.

Lead

Lead is one of the most dangerous contaminants found in aging water infrastructure, especially in older homes. Lead exposure can cause serious neurological damage, with children being particularly vulnerable, even at low levels of exposure. You can read about the health risks associated with lead in drinking water here. Berkey filters remove more than 99.9% of lead, providing reliable protection for your family.

Learn more: Does Berkey remove lead?

Mercury

Mercury contamination from industrial waste can damage the kidneys and nervous system. Berkey water filters effectively remove mercury to safeguard your health.

Learn more about mercury in groundwater issue.

Nitrites

Nitrites, often found in water due to agricultural runoff and septic system failures, can be dangerous, especially to infants and pregnant women. Berkey filters remove more than 95% of nitrites, although they do not remove nitrates — something users in farming communities should keep in mind.

Learn more about nitrates and nitrites in drinking water.

Pathogenic Microorganisms

Modern agriculture relies heavily on chemicals to boost crop yields, but these substances often end up in water sources. Berkey filters remove over 99.9% of toxic herbicides and pesticides, offering robust protection from chemicals that could disrupt hormones, damage organs, or increase cancer risk.

Learn more: Is a Berkey Water Filter Effective at Removing Pesticides and Herbicides?

Petroleum-Based Contaminants

Oil spills and runoff from industrial zones can introduce petroleum-based pollutants such as gasoline, diesel, and crude oil into the water supply. Berkey filters reduce these pollutants by more than 99.9%, making them an effective safeguard during environmental disasters or emergencies.

PFAS (Forever Chemicals)

Perfluorochemicals (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals found in everything from nonstick pans to firefighting foam. Known for their persistence in the environment and the human body, these “forever chemicals” have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and immune system damage. Berkey systems remove over 99.9% of PFAS, helping mitigate long-term health risks.

Learn more about what PFAS Chemicals are and if Berkey removes them.

Pharmaceutical Drugs

Trace amounts of medications, from painkillers to hormones, have been detected in water supplies due to human waste and improper disposal. Berkey filters remove over 99.5% of pharmaceutical drugs including acetaminophen, caffeine, diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen, naproxen, progesterone, triclosan, and more.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

VOCs are harmful chemicals released by industrial processes and household products. Berkey filters remove an extensive range of VOCs, including atrazine, benzene, dieldrin, tetrachloromethane, and more to below lab-detectable limits, offering protection against these toxic inhalants and solvents.

Does a Berkey Water Filter Also Filter Out Beneficial Minerals?

Unlike many filtration systems that strip water of everything, including beneficial minerals, Berkey filters are designed to retain essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.

The one exception is zinc, which is intentionally removed to prevent overconsumption. Since zinc is widely available in the average diet, this small tradeoff is unlikely to impact health.

Learn more: Does the Berkey Water Filter Remove Minerals?

Why Choose a Berkey Water Filter System?

Berkey water filtration systems have been independently tested and proven to remove over 200 of the most concerning pollutants, including heavy metals, chemical byproducts, pesticides, and even pharmaceutical residues, while still retaining beneficial minerals your body needs. Whether you’re concerned about arsenic in well water or PFAS in municipal systems, Berkey offers a proven, powerful solution to keep your family safe.

Black Berkey® filters are the powerhouse behind the Berkey water filtration system’s exceptional performance. What makes them unique is both their multi-stage filtration technology and the breadth of contaminants they remove, which rivals or exceeds the capabilities of many conventional water filters, including RO systems, without the need for electricity or pressurized water. This means they can be used anywhere, even off-grid or during emergencies.

How the Black Berkey Filters Work

Black Berkey filters use a proprietary blend of six different filtration technologies, all packed into a single element:

1. Microfiltration
   The outer shell of the filter is composed of high-density micropores that physically block contaminants larger than 0.2 microns and to even lower levels.
2. Adsorption and Absorption
   Inside, the filter media contains an advanced formulation of activated carbon and other proprietary elements. These materials are designed to adsorb (chemically bind) a wide array of impurities, such as chlorine, pesticides, VOCs, and pharmaceutical residues, while also absorbing harmful metals like lead and mercury.
3. Ion Exchange
   Black Berkey filters also utilize ion exchange, a process in which undesirable ions (like heavy metals) are swapped for harmless ones, removing contaminants at the molecular level.
4. Gravitational Flow
   Unlike pressurized systems, Berkey filters rely solely on gravity to pull water through the filter elements. This longer contact time between the water and filter media allows for a more thorough purification process.

So, what does a Berkey filter out? Quite a lot—and that’s exactly why so many families, preppers, health-conscious individuals, and off-grid adventurers trust Berkey to protect their water supply.

For a more detailed overview of what the Black Berkey filters remove from the water, please visit the Black Berkey Contaminant Removal Page. Links to Certified Independent Test Results of the PF-2 Fluoride Filters and the Black Berkey Filter Elements can be found here.

Berkey systems can also be fitted with a pair of Ultra Sterasyl Ceramic Replacement Filters (or the Ceramic Ultra All in One Fluoride Water Filter option) should Black Berkey filter elements be unavailable. These budget-friendly filters offer an affordable alternative to the Black Berkey filter elements and have been independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, CAN 372, and CAN 401 standards, removing harmful contaminants such as bacteria, chlorine, and microplastics to ensure safe, great-tasting water.

If you’re ready to take control of your water quality and gain peace of mind, explore the full range of Berkey systems. Clean, safe, great-tasting water starts here.

FAQ

Do Berkey filters remove fluoride?

Yes, the standard Black Berkey filters will remove fluoride initially, however the removal effectiveness decreases after 100 gallons, so is not considered an effective fluoride filter option. To effectively reduce fluoride levels, Berkey offers optional PF-2 fluoride and arsenic filters(good for 1000 gallons), which are installed in the lower chamber.

---

Do Berkey filters remove PFAS (forever chemicals)?

Yes, Berkey filters have been independently tested and confirmed to remove PFAS contaminants from drinking water.

---

Do Berkey filters remove lead?

Yes, Berkey filters have been tested to remove over 99.9% of lead, making them effective for treating water with heavy metal contamination.

---

Do Berkey filters remove chlorine?

Yes, Berkey filters significantly reduce chlorine levels, which helps improve taste and odor in treated water.

---

Do Berkey filters remove radioactive contaminants?

Yes, Berkey filters reduce radioactive elements such as iodine, radium, uranium, and strontium by over 95%, according to lab testing.

---

Do Berkey filters remove beneficial minerals?

No, Berkey filters are designed to retain essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are beneficial for health.

---

Do Berkey filters leach aluminum into the water?

No, there’s no verified risk of aluminum leaching and there is a good deal of misinformation being perpetrated by filter competitors. The fluoride filters are composed of activated alumina (not aluminum), which binds to fluoride contaminants without releasing aluminum. Activated Alumina and Aluminum are terms that sound very similar, but are absolutely different materials in their composition and use. This is explained in detail in the below article.

Learn more about Do Berkey Filter Leach Aluminum into the Water.

---

Can Berkey filters filter rainwater, lake water, or well water?

Yes, Berkey systems can filter rainwater, lake water, melted snow, and well water. They're ideal for off-grid and emergency use. However, after events like floods or when using untreated well water, it's best to test the source first, as not all contaminants may be removed. Boiling the water beforehand can add extra safety.