Berkey Ceramic Filters

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$730.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, NGOs

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Berkey ceramic Filters are currently distributed by Authorized international Dealers, in north America (US and Canada (14 dealers), Puerto Rico and carribbean Islands (1 dealer), Europe(21 dealers), Middle East (2 dealers), Asia (4 dealers), Australia and New Zealand(8 dealers) and South Africa (1 dealer) and South America (Peru). Berkey Filters USA and Big Berkey Water filters are the main dealers. Historically, Berkey filtration systems have been used by The Royal household in England, populations in over 140 countries worldwide, relief Organizations such as UNICEF, the Peace Corps, Missionary organizations and Red Cross Societies Internationally and by hunters, campers, adventurers and explorers.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Kohler Clarity Water Filter, Safi Water Filters, Rainfresh MP4U Gravity Filter, Rainfresh P2S Siphon Water Filter, British Berkefeld Household Filter Kit, Stéfani Filtro Flex, Tulip Siphon Filter, and Tulip Table Top Filter.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Envirogard Products Ltd. manufactures the ceramic filter cartridges, the buckets, spigots, and other components are manufactured separately and shipped together or obtained locally and assembled on-site.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Berkey water purification systems, accessories, and other products are sold online, in market or in stores through a network of Authorized Berkey Dealers worldwide.

Distributions to Date Status

Approximate number is unknown but it is at least in the hundreds given that NMCL has a global network of hundreds of Authorized Berkey® Dealers that has grown since the business began in 1998. Interview with representative

Design Specifications

Berkey ® Systems come in 7 different sizes: Go kit, Light, Travel, Big, Royal, Imperial and Crown Berkey ® System. Each system consists of an upper and lower stainless steel chamber (except for the Light Berkey ® System which is make of non-BPA/BPS co-polyester). The filtering process is performed by Black Berkey® Purification Elements which come standard in pairs in all systems (except for the Go Berkey® Kit which comes with one element) and can be added in pairs up to 8 elements to speed up purification. Sizes of Berkey Filters with number of Black Berkey® Purification Elements. To use, water is poured from any source into the top chamber of the system, and purified water is dispensed from the lower chamber through a spigot. Depending on filter size, normal everyday use ranges from 1 to 12 people and up to 625 people during emergency situations. Storage capacity can range from 0.95 L to 22.7 L and average flow rate is between 3.8 L/hours and 98.4 L /hours. Dimensions: Go Berkey ® kit: 14¨x 4¨ (355.6 x 101.6mm); 2.4 Lb (weight empty); 0.95 L of storage capacity; 3.8 L/hour of average flow rate . Light Berkey ® System: 26.5¨x 9¨; 8 Lb (weight empty); 10.4 L of storage capacity; 15.2 – 26.5 L/hour of average flow rate. Travel Berkey ® System: 18¨x 7.5¨; 7 Lb (weight empty); 5.7 L of storage capacity; 10.4 L/hour of average flow rate. Big Berkey ® System: 19.25¨x 9¨; 7 Lb (weight empty); 8.5 L of storage capacity; 13.3 – 26.5 L/hours of average flow rate. Royal Berkey ® System: 23 x 9.5¨; 8 Lb (weight empty); 12.3 L of storage capacity; 15.1 – 26.5 L/hour of average flow rate. Imperial Berkey ® System: 26¨x 10¨; 10 Lb (weight empty); 17 L of storage capacity; 20.8 – 62.5 L/hours of average flow rate. Crown Berkey ® System: 30¨x 11¨; 12 Lb (weight empty); 22.7 L of storage capacity; 24.6 – 98.4 L/hours of average flow rate.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Costumers are asked to visit Berkey® by NMCL Customer Support & Service for defective products requiring repair or replacement under the terms of New Millennium Concepts product0s Limited Warranty and return policy.

Replacement Components

Replacements components include the Black Berkey® Purification Elements and other items, as well as accessories or enhancements such as the Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements that may be installed on each Black Berkey® Purification Element.

Lifecycle

Each pair of Black Berkey® Purification Elements has a typical expected use of about 5-8 years (up to 6,000 gallons of treated water) before needing replacement and includes a 2 years limited prorated warranty. Other components such as the Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Filters and all Berkey® accessories include a 6 month warranty.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Berkey® systems equipped with Black Berkey®Purification Elements are designed to accomodate size of the user’s space, number of people served and water use. They are also made to remove up to 99.999% of viruses and 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria, and to remove or dramatically reduce protozoa, trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, rust, silt, sediment and even radiologicals. Designer specific performane targets include: powerful (filter), effortless, convenient,portable, durable, economical and proven.

Vetted Performance Status

Black Berkey Purification elements have been tested for biological and microbiological removal efficiency by Biological Consulting Services of North Florida Inc. and ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. and for chemical and physical contaminants reduction and/or removal by ENVIROTEK LABORATORIES, INC., QUALITY FILTER TESTING LABORATORY, LLC. and by Water Filter Labs. For a list of contaminant filtration specifications click here. For the link to laboratory tests results performed see here.

Safety

Potential hazards would be those related to the use of this product when damaged and is in need of replacement. When the carbon of the black filtering elements becomes exhausted, although the ceramic shell will continue to remove pathogenic bacteria and turbidity, the filter will be unable to reduce chemicals, foul taste and odors of the source water.

Complementary Technical Systems

The Berkey Purification systems do no need extra component to assist function. However there are accessories that can be bought to improve function and purification such as the Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

The Black Berkey® Purification Element formulation has been tested by State and EPA accredited laboratories to exceed NSF/ANSI Standard 53.

Evaluation methods

The Black Berkey® Purification Elements have been evaluated for removal of bacteria, virus, cysts, turbidity, protozoa, trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, and radiologicals in certified third-party laboratories and independently by Water Filter Labs forbelement reduction( Al, Cu, As,St, Cd,Cs, Hg, Pb, U).

Other Information

For video reviews and user and costumer experiences see here.

To see other articles related to Berkey Filters efficiency and comparison to other filters see here.

Related articles

Adams, Mike “Big Berkey gravity-fed water filters are a top pick for clean water and long-term preparedness”, Sunday, October 17, 2010.

Adams, Mike “Gravity water filter scientific test results released by Natural News: Big Berkey, ProPur, Zen Water Systems and more”, Wednesday, November 12, 2014.

Debon, L-J., “Flint, Michigan, lead poisoning not a problem if you own a Big Berkey water filter: See lead removal lab test results at WaterFilterLabs.com”, Tuesday, January 19, 2016,

Adams, Mike “Big Berkey beats ProPur gravity water filter for removal of heavy metals and toxic elements”, Thursday, October 23, 2014.