A Berkey water filtration system can literally change your life, providing you with an endless supply of healthy, great tasting water that is free of contaminants that can pose a health risk or simply make water taste and smell bad. But new owners often have two concerns: 1) the water is not cold enough when it is dispensed from the Berkey; and 2) they are concerned they are not getting sufficient minerals from their water. In this article we address these two concerns and answer common questions on these topics.

Can I Add Minerals to My Berkey?

A question that new Berkey owners often ask is 'can I add mineral stones to my Berkey system.' The short answer is yes, you can add mineral stones and electrolytes to your Berkey, and if you chose to do so, it is recommended that you add these to the lower chamber. However, there really isn't any need to add minerals to water filtered by a Berkey as unlike reverse osmosis water filtration systems, the Black Berkey purification elements remove all the bad stuff, including sedimentary minerals, but leave the beneficial ionic minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium behind. These minerals are not only required by our bodies to maintain good health, they also give water a subtle flavor, and when they are removed it can leave the water tasting bland. So, bottom line is that a Berkey water filter does not strip the beneficial minerals out of the water, so there is no need to add mineral stones or electrolytes to your Berkey system, however it is fine to do so if you want to up the mineral content.

Can I Add Ice to My Berkey?

Berkey owners, particularly those that live in warmer parts of the country, often want to know whether they can add ice cubes to their Berkey system. While you can add ice cubes to your Berkey, as long as the water isn't near freezing, there really isn't much point as the ice cubes would need to thaw out in order to pass through the filters and the water could quickly return to room temperature. As Berkey does not recommend that you let your filter elements freeze, due to concerns that cold water can increase the size of the pores and eventually destroy the elements rendering them unusable and voiding your warranty, it would probably be better to err on the side of caution and add ice to the lower chamber or directly to your glass of water. Bear in mind that ice cubes made from tap water will most likely contain pollutants that could affect your freshly filtered water, so if you choose to add ice to your water, use filtered water to make the ice cubes. A simpler option for having a supply of ice cold water on hand is to pour the filtered water into a pitcher and store it in the fridge.

As Berkey water contains hydrogen, oxygen and beneficial minerals — with all the unwanted contaminants removed, it offers a safe, natural, and healthy way of staying hydrated. If you prefer ice cold water, place a pitcher of Berkey water in the fridge or add ice cubes made from Berkey water to your drink.