We recently asked one of our repeat customers (whom we've recently become friends with) if they'd write an in-depth review of their Berkey experience. Below is his article. His name is Sean Purdue, hails from from Chicago, Il and he purchased his first Berkey system in Jan 2018.

We have fairly good quality drinking water where I live, or so I thought. It comes from the local water utility here in Chicago, and is considered to be clean and treated. Unfortunately, it does have a slight metallic taste, and occasionally a strong chemical taste and odor, which can be a bit off-putting and can ruin a good cup of coffee. We have always used bottled water to tide us through these episodes. I was initially a bit skeptical about purchasing a Berkey water filter, considering the upfront cost, but due to ongoing pressure from my wife who drinks lots of water and coffee, I eventually relented and purchased a Big Berkey. And I'm glad I did, as it has literally improved my life in so many ways. 

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

Firstly, and most importantly, my wife is happy, lol. But to be honest, so am I as it has been a game changer.

We opted for the Big Berkey as it serves a family of four without being too big and cumbersome in our kitchen counter. The polished stainless steel chambers look awesome too. Our system came with two Black Berkey filters, which are capable of removing over 200 common drinking water contaminants. We have since added two PF-2 fluoride and arsenic filters to the bottom chamber to protect our family from those contaminants too.

Since we have had filtered water on tap, I have become a bit of a water snob. While I know Berkey does not advertise or guarantee a water taste, for me there is a huge difference in taste between the water delivered by the Berkey and the water that comes from our taps. There are no chemical odors or tastes often associated with chlorinated water, and no lingering metallic taste either. 

The water not only tastes great, but we now feel better knowing that our kids are protected from contaminants often found in drinking water. From the site, these include pathogenic bacteria, lead and other heavy metals, organic and inorganic compounds, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, PFAS and BPA, and more.

Saves Money & Protects the Environment

We no longer have to keep a stash of bottled water on hand. This has resulted in a huge savings for us, and as a result, our Big Berkey has already paid for itself in about 6 months. Our family is also very environmentally aware, and the plastic footprint associated with using bottled water has always been a big concern for us. The Berkey offers an environmentally-friendly solution. We now have a steady supply of purified water, without contributing to the planet's plastic problem. 

Clean Water at Home, Work and On the Go

Since the water supplied by Berkey is in a class of its own, I have now bought each member of my family a Sport Berkey water bottle to use when they are away from home. My kids now have clean, safe drinking water when they are at school, and my wife and I use ours to keep ourselves hydrated when we commute to work or are at the gym.

I have also purchased a Berkey Light system for our small office to give myself and my team access to filtered water throughout the day. We also never have to worry about boil water advisories that pop-up here in Chicago more often than it should.

I have absolutely no regrets about purchasing the Berkey. The taste of the water is beyond delicious. My family is hooked on Berkey water. We use the Big Berkey at home for everything, including cooking and making coffee. Our dog drinks it too. My wife even waters our house plants with it. Definitely one of my best purchases for my home in a long time.