Big Berkey Water Filter Questions

Question 1

I am concerned that the stainless steel containers could lead to leaching of nickel into the drinking water. Has any research been done into whether this happens?

Accepted Answer

Several studies indicate that nickel leaching may occur with 304 stainless steel however it is an extremely small amount (parts per billion) and typically it only occurs in an acidic solution, during cooking, etc. The purified water in a Berkey system is not acidic and should not cause any leaching to occur. Just to emphasise Berkey purified water becomes more alkaline after passing through the Black Berkey filters. Please see the following reports from the National Center for Biotechnology and here.

Question 2

I'm wondering if the Berkey system removes fluoride from the water?

Accepted Answer

The standard Black Berkey filters do not remove fluoride for this you would need the extra PF-2 fluoride filters. These can be bought as a discounted accessory with every Berkey system and are attached to the Black Berkey filters.

Question 3

Just want to say thank you for our Berkey which we got from you in January, we are very happy with our Berkey. We live in an area with very hard water and we would like to know if it can affect our Berkey. When do we need to replace the filters and do we need to clean both containers regularly? We have found there are marks of limescale inside of both. Also does the filter remove limescale for drinking water or not?

Accepted Answer

Yes you will have some calcium carbonate build-up in the lower chamber and it's a good idea to clean it every couple of months. The limescale is in itself harmless, it&rsquo;s just a mineral build-up. I can't say how it will affect the filters as the mineral make-up of every local water is different. If your flow rate remains more or less the same then there's no problem. No the filters do not remove calcium carbonate (scale). If you would like to calculate how long your filters will last please see the: Black Berkey Filter Replacement Calculator

Question 4

We wondered if the Berkey filters also remove hormones from the water? They sound fantastic, but we are also keen to find something that removes hormones as well.

Accepted Answer

The Black Berkey filters have not been officially tested for the removal of hormones so I can make no claims for their elimination. Unofficially I can say that the likelihood is very high. Please see the following report (www.scientiareview.org/pdfs/169.pdf) regarding hormone removal by GBC carbon filters which are virtually the same as the Black Berkey filters and they attained a removal percentage >98% in various tests.

Question 5

I have been using my Big Berkey for a year now. Do I have to replace the Black Berkey filters already?

Accepted Answer

No, the Black Berkey filters usually last for years. To check when your filters need replacing please see the replacement calculator on the Black Berkey page.

Question 6

We live in rural France and we have problems with pesticide contamination of our mains water. Our daily usage for drinking would be around 8 litres. Which of your systems would be most effective?

Accepted Answer

We would suggest the Big Berkey which has a capacity of 8.5 liters would be most appropriate in your situation. The Berkey systems all come standard with 2 Black Berkey filters and the only difference is capacity and the number of filters which can be installed in the larger systems.

Question 7

Does the Big Berkey come standard with 2 Black Berkey filters and can it be expanded to hold 4 Black Berkey filters?

Accepted Answer

Yes the Big Berkey and all other Berkey systems come standard with 2 Black Berkey filters. The Big Berkey can be expanded to 4 Black Berkey filters and can be set up with 2 or 4 Black Berkey filters. The advantage of 4 filters is a faster flow rate and a longer lifespan.You can also order the Big Berkey with 4 Black Berkey filters and keep 2 Black Berkey filters in reserve as replacement filters.

Question 8

Does the Big Berkey system include a set of Black Berkey filters?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Big Berkey water filter system includes a set of Black Berkey filters and all necessary parts for immediate use. The Big Berkey can be expanded with one extra set of Black Berkey filters.

Question 9

What is the cost of delivery and where is the Big Berkey sent from?

Accepted Answer

All Berkey orders are sent from the Netherlands and it is free delivery to anywhere in the EU and UK.

Question 10

I have a waterbutt connected to the gutters on my house for collecting rainwater from the roof. Are the Black Berkey filters able to filter the rain water in the waterbutt safely?

Accepted Answer

Yes the Black Berkey filters can purify rain water into drinking water. Please make sure that if you collect it from a roof that the gutters and the waterbutt are as clean as possible. Rotting leaves and twigs release tannins into the water and excess tannins will prematurely clog the filters.

Question 11

I haven&rsquo;t used my Big Berkey for the past year and want to start using it again. Is it safe to use the Black Berkey filters or do I need new Black Berkey filters?

Accepted Answer

If the Black Berkey filters were allowed to dry out thoroughly before being put away in storage then the filters are safe to use again. You will need to prime the Black Berkey filters again as you did when you first set up the Big Berkey.

Question 12

Do the Black Berkey filters remove microplastics from the water?

Accepted Answer

Black Berkey filters laboratory test results show that the filters can extract waterborne pathogens down to the nanometer scale, in the tested range of 24-26 nanometers. 24-26 nanometers is .024 to .026 microns&hellip;in other words, much smaller than the plastic particles being found in water.An extensive investigation on microplastics in water found that these analyses caught particles of more than 2.5 microns in size,&rdquo; 2.5 microns would be 2.5 micrometers. A &ldquo;micron&rdquo; is an abbreviated term for &ldquo;micrometer&rdquo;, or a millionth of a meter (1/1,000,000 meters). Working down to a smaller scale 2.5 microns would be 2,500 nanometers.The fact that Black Berkey filters test results show that the filters can remove waterborne pathogens down to the nanometer scale, in the tested range of 24-26 nanometers, suggests that contaminants much larger in size such as microplastics should also be removed. Nonetheless, since actual testing of microplastics removal has not yet been conducted, the manufacturer can&rsquo;t officially make that claim.

Question 13

Can I attach the Big Berkey water filter system to my water mains?

Accepted Answer

No, the Berkey systems are only available as stand alone counter-top units and cannot be attached to the water mains.

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