Black Berkey Filter Elements are the long-established flagship filter element made by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. (NMCL). They are currently temporarily unavailable while an EPA regulatory matter is resolved. Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are the current in-stock alternative. They are made by the same manufacturer, NMCL.

The elements use a four-mechanism filtration process working simultaneously as water passes through by gravity:

• Microfiltration: A dense matrix of more than six different media types forms millions of microscopic pores. The tortuous path mechanically traps sediment, silt, colloids, cysts, and non-dissolved particulates.
• Adsorption: Activated carbon in the media chemically bonds to and extracts organic contaminants — chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and herbicides.
• Absorption: Certain contaminants are drawn into the body of the media itself.
• Ion exchange: Heavy metal ions (lead, mercury, arsenic) are electrochemically bonded to the media and extracted from the water.

The gravity-driven filtration takes several minutes per pass, versus microseconds in pressure-driven systems. This extended contact time is critical: the longer water molecules are in contact with the media, the greater the contaminant removal across all four mechanisms.

Micron rating claims in the filter industry are routinely misleading due to a distinction most consumers don't know to look for — the difference between nominal and absolute ratings.

A nominal micron rating is the average pore size. If 90% of pores are 0.02 microns and 10% are 2 microns, a brand could legitimately claim a nominal rating of 0.2 microns - while the bulk of water actually channels through the larger 2-micron pores.

An absolute micron rating claims the maximum pore size, but even here the US standard (99.9% removal) and international standard (99.99% removal) create a tenfold difference that marketers exploit. Berkey previously published a rating using the international standard; a competitor claimed their filter was superior based on a nominal US rating that was actually measuring a larger average pore size.

Rather than publish a number that can be legitimately distorted in comparisons, Berkey publishes documented contaminant removal performance from accredited third-party lab testing. The elements are powerful enough to mechanically remove food coloring from water, which serves as an accessible functional verification test.

Independent third-party lab testing has confirmed removal or reduction of 200+ contaminants, including:

Full independent lab reports are available on our test results page and as downloadable PDFs above. Note: Black Berkey elements initially remove fluoride at up to 99.9% but lose that capability after a few hundred gallons. PF-2 elements are recommended for reliable long-term fluoride reduction.

Yes. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) independently tested the Berkey Travel system against 10 pitcher and countertop water filters and found it reduced PFAS including PFOA and PFOS to non-detectable levels, rating it Best Overall for PFAS removal. This was independent third-party testing, not internal claims.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), including PFOA and PFOS, are removed through adsorption in the activated carbon media. Full EWG test documentation is available on our test results page.

Yes. Lead and other heavy metals are removed through an ion exchange process in the filter media.Heavy metal ions are electrochemically bonded to the media as water passes through. Independent lab testing has documented lead reduction to below detectable limits. Other heavy metals reduced include mercury and arsenic. For arsenic specifically, adding PF-2 post-filter elements provides additional dedicated arsenic reduction capacity beyond the main filter elements. Full heavy metal test documentation is on our test results page.

Chlorine: Yes, removed through adsorption in the activated carbon media. This is one of the most well-documented capabilities of high-quality activated carbon filtration and is confirmed in Black Berkey and Phoenix lab testing.

Chloramines: Yes. Chloramine reduction requires high-quality activated carbon and sufficient contact time between the water and the media — both of which Berkey systems provide. Chloramines need significantly longer contact time with carbon than chlorine; the slow gravity-driven pass-through rate of Berkey filtration is well-suited for this. Full chloramine test results are available on our test results page.

Yes, for a broad range of pharmaceutical compounds tested. Independent lab testing has confirmed reduction of numerous pharmaceuticals including ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, caffeine, and carbamazepine. Because thousands of pharmaceutical compounds exist, no blanket claim can be made that every possible pharmaceutical is removed. The multi-stage activated carbon adsorption mechanism targets the same organic molecular structures common to most pharmaceutical contaminants. Full pharmaceutical test results are available on our test results page.

Black Berkey elements do initially remove fluoride at up to 99.9% — but carbon-based media loses fluoride reduction capability relatively quickly, typically after a few hundred gallons. This is a known limitation of carbon filtration for fluoride specifically, not a defect in the elements.

For context: a competitor's 3-filter bone char system went from 100% fluoride removal to 81.4% removal after just 45 gallons total — 15 gallons per element. Carbon-based fluoride reduction simply exhausts fast regardless of brand.

PF-2 elements use activated alumina, a media with a natural chemical affinity for fluoride and arsenic - and provide reliable fluoride reduction for up to 1,000 gallons per set. The division of roles is intentional: Black Berkey or Phoenix elements handle the full contaminant spectrum across their 3,000 or 2,750 gallon life; PF-2 elements reliably handle fluoride across their shorter, replaceable cycle. Using both together provides complete coverage.

Priming clears trapped air from the microscopic filter pores so water flows at the proper rate. New elements arrive dry — without priming, the system may flow extremely slowly or not at all.

1. Hold the element with the stem end facing up.
2. Place the priming button (the thicker rubber disc from the element box) over the stem opening to form a water-tight seal.
3. Press firmly against a running faucet for 30 to 60 seconds until water flows freely from the entire exterior surface.
4. Repeat for each element. Always re-prime after cleaning.

For storage: prime elements before storing if you intend to use them quickly on retrieval. Dry-stored elements should be re-primed after any long storage period. If no tap pressure is available, use the submersion method - see the Troubleshooting FAQ.

The shelf life is indefinite when stored correctly — elements will remain usable until needed. For long-term storage, seal the elements in a zip-lock bag. This is important because the activated carbon media is powerful enough to absorb airborne contaminants over time, which could pre-exhaust a portion of the media's capacity in environments with significant airborne pollutants. A sealed bag prevents this entirely.

When returning to use after extended dry storage: re-prime the elements before installation and run one break-in fill cycle before drinking.

No. Black Berkey elements are approximately twice as thick as standard gravity filter elements. The extra thickness is intentional redundancy built into the design. A minor surface dimple does not indicate a structural flaw or compromise filtration integrity.

To confirm performance, run the red food coloring test: add one tablespoon of red food coloring per gallon in the upper chamber. If the filtered water is completely clear, the element is working correctly. If tinted, tighten the wing nut on that element and re-run the test.

Yes. Both Black Berkey elements and Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are interchangeable with most third-party gravity filter systems that use the standard stem-and-wing-nut mounting configuration. PF-2 post-filter elements can also be used with compatible third-party systems.

Standard curbside recycling is not recommended for either product. The complex multi-media matrix inside Black Berkey and Phoenix elements cannot be classified under a single recycle code, and after use there is no way to know what contaminants have been absorbed into the media. The filters will NOT release the contaminants back into the environment once discarded.

PF-2 and PF-4 shells are made from Polypropylene (Recycle Code 5 - the same plastic used in ketchup bottles and yogurt containers). However, because the shell is sealed and contains fluoride and arsenic reduction media, a formal recycle code cannot be assigned to the complete product. To recycle the shell, the element would need to be cut open and the internal media removed first, which is not practical for most users.