2 Reasons Why You Should NOT Buy A Berkey Water Filter
*This review is from REAL personal experience*
I purchased the Royal Berkey Water Filter + 2 Black Purifiers Elements Filtration System UK Steel from Amazon on 15 February 2018.
I personally own and use a Big Berkey water filter (The Royal Berkey) in my home so this article is coming from my personal experience of owning and using this product. This is in conjunction with looking at other reviews from verified customers online.
As shown below, I purchased it in 2018 from Amazon with my own funds and still use it today.
Before talking about all the good features, let’s quickly highlight some reasons why you might NOT want to buy a Berkey:
2 Reasons Why You Should NOT Buy a Berkey
It does NOT filter fluoride and arsenic without special filters.
Like most high quality counter top filters, Berkey is not cheap costing a few hundred bucks for the device and requires you to buy replacement filters on an on-going basis. However, the filter cartridges can last upwards of 6-12 months depending on your usage.
AquaTru Water Filter | Berkey Water Filter |
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| - Arsenic: Approx 90% (unspecified). - Fluoride by 91.8% (WITHOUT extra filters). - Lead 97.5% - Benzene 99.9% - Chlorine 96.6% - Cysts 99.99% | - Arsenic by 99.9% (special filters required). - Fluoride by 99.9% (special filters required). - Lead 97.5% - Benzene 99.8% |
| Available in 1-size only. | Available in various sizes. |
| Plastic materials. | Metal & plastic materials. |
| Number of filters: 3 | Number of filters: 2 - 4 |
| Filter methods: Mechanical, Reverse Osmosis & Activated Carbon filters. | Filter methods: Black microporous-filters & white fluoride Filters |
| 4-stage filter process. | 2-stage filter process. |
| Holds a maximum water capacity of 3-quarts. | 2.25 Gallons |
| 45.7 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm | 19" High x 8.5" Diameter |
| System: 1 year limited warranty. | Filters: 2 years; System: 1 year. |
| Full Performance Data Sheet (AquaTru). | Berkey Contaminants List NSF/ANSI test results |
| SPECIAL OFFER? Yes, use code MRWATERGEEK  | SPECIAL OFFER? Yes, Big Berkey bundle sale |
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7 Reasons Why You SHOULD
Here are all of my favourite things about the Big Berkey products and why you should consider buying one:
1. What Does Berkey Water Filter Remove? A lot.
This brand of filter literally removes hundreds of contaminants including any type 
of bacteria or parasite that one normally comes across in your everyday drinking water.
But there is more.
Apart from removing the obvious (like bacteria), the Berkey water filter also removes heavy metals like mercury and lead as well as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), toxic chemicals like chlorine, chromium-6 and benzene (think Erin Brockovich).
If your water filtration needs include removing things like pharmaceutical drugs and pesticides then the Berkey removes this to levels higher than 99.99%.
2. Berkey Has a Highly Effective Fluoride Filter (99.9%+)
I have written extensively about how local authorities routinely add things like fluoride to the public tap water supply. This is an apparent move to help improve the dental and oral hygiene of the population but you don’t need this if you brush your teeth on a daily basis.
Does Berkey remove fluoride? Yes.
Most filtration devices do not remove fluoride. But the Berkey water filter does. In fact it has special filters that remove arsenic (another big no-no in your drinking water).
3. Berkey Does NOT require Electricity
Many countertop water filters need a water pressure system in order to work and this can sometimes require electricity. A filter system that uses electricity means higher bills.
However, Berkey filters are gravity fed!
This means you don’t need to worry about water pressure or electricity for that matter.
All you need to do is pour water into the top chamber and it filters the water down. By the time the water reaches the bottom chamber it’s completely filtered, purified, clean and ready to drink.
4. There is a Portable Version (Berkey Travel)
I have taken my Berkey water filter with me on vacation with friends. Since it doesn’t use electricity, need cables or need to be plumbed in you can take it anywhere.
Apart from holidays, it is perfect if you ever experience an emergency situation like a hurricane, earthquake or even a zombie outbreak.
At least if the worst happens, you won’t have to worry about clean drinking water.
5. Berkey Water Filter Saves Money In the Long Run
The Berkey water filter is extremely economical.
Yes, it can be a little pricey upfront. For instance, the Berkey 2 gallon model costs around $250, which seems expensive but get this: the two filters that come with the 2 gallon model will purify around 6,000 gallons before you need to replace them.
To put this into perspective, if you drink 10 gallons of water each week, it will take you around 11 years before they need replacing.
All this will come at a cost of less than 2 cents per gallon.
Now compare this to the fact that most water filters only last around 3-6 months!
6. Berkey Is Easy To Use
My other favorite thing about the Berkey water filter is they are so easy to use.
Literally just add water.
Bear in mind that you don’t need to plumb them in, hook them up to an existing water supply or connect it to electricity.
It comes with a valve so using it is as easy as turning on a tap.
Also, it is made from stainless steel, which makes cleaning it much easier as well.
7. Versatile Capacity / Sizes (Berkey Light, Travel, Big and Crown)
This is possibly one of the best things about Berkey water filters. It is big enough to contain up to 2.5 gallons of water in its reservoir and filters around 3.5 gallons per hour.
This makes it ideal for a big family OR if you simply want to have something big enough so you don’t need to refilled too often.
Despite its capacity, it is still very portable and not hard to transport if you, say, want to take it on vacation.
It is easy to take apart and nestle the top chamber into the bottom one. Once nestled like this, the entire unit only stands at 13 inches high so won’t take up too much room in your luggage.
If this wasn’t enough, they also come in lots of different sizes. Everything from the super portable1.5 gallon Travel Berkey all the way up to the giant 6 gallon Crown Berkey.
Berkey Water Filter SCAM?
Berkey is clearly a reputable company that builds quality water filters so where does this issue of a Berkey water filter SCAM come from?
Well Berkey had a sudden surge of demand within a short period of time that many re-sellers flooded the market to help pick up all the extra demand.
Sadly many of these re-sellers did not always work with integrity and this generated lots of bad reviews online.
This has been such an issue that Berkey themselves even comment on this issue on their website.
To avoid the “Berkey water filter scam” make sure you always buy your unit direct from source.
They also offer the best prices typically lower than what you would find on Amazon.
…Even More Reasons To LOVE The Berkey Water Filter
Berkey was rated #1 at removing contaminants in 2014 by Natural News Water Filter Labs.
Berkey filters exceed ANSI/EPA NSF standards for filtration. This means that they are considered to be water purifiers (not just water filters).
Berkey is trusted by organizations like Red Cross, Peace Corps and UNICEF to filter “un-drinkable” water in developing countries.
Final Thought On The Big Berkey Water Filter?
The biggest flaw that I can find is its high upfront cost when compared to other water filters.
Sorry, there is no getting away from the fact that this brand is a little more expensive than you would expect.
But when you consider all the contaminants it removes from your water, how long the filters last and how easy to use/portable it is, in my opinion it’s worth the money.
AquaTru Water Filter | Berkey Water Filter |
| |
| - Arsenic: Approx 90% (unspecified). - Fluoride by 91.8% (WITHOUT extra filters). - Lead 97.5% - Benzene 99.9% - Chlorine 96.6% - Cysts 99.99% | - Arsenic by 99.9% (special filters required). - Fluoride by 99.9% (special filters required). - Lead 97.5% - Benzene 99.8% |
| Available in 1-size only. | Available in various sizes. |
| Plastic materials. | Metal & plastic materials. |
| Number of filters: 3 | Number of filters: 2 - 4 |
| Filter methods: Mechanical, Reverse Osmosis & Activated Carbon filters. | Filter methods: Black microporous-filters & white fluoride Filters |
| 4-stage filter process. | 2-stage filter process. |
| Holds a maximum water capacity of 3-quarts. | 2.25 Gallons |
| 45.7 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm | 19" High x 8.5" Diameter |
| System: 1 year limited warranty. | Filters: 2 years; System: 1 year. |
| Full Performance Data Sheet (AquaTru). | Berkey Contaminants List NSF/ANSI test results |
| SPECIAL OFFER? Yes, use code MRWATERGEEK | SPECIAL OFFER? Yes, Big Berkey bundle sale |
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I don’t believe Berkey makes an under-counter system; I have one now, made by a different company, and I would like to replace it with something that is compatible with the Berkey filters.
Any advice would be appreciated.
When was it tested and certified to NSF/ANSI standards?
Hi Norman
Here are NSF/ANSI Berkey test results from Envirotek Laboratories dated 10/15/2014.
Stay hydrated,
Luke
Water quality and purity is complicated. Anyone who has had chemistry, worked in a lab or in processing of industrial waste knows double distilling gives the purest water followed by reverse osmosis and finally other forms of filtration. With well over 200 contaminants possible in water it’s important to know what is the most effective purification/filtration is best followed by options one may need to consider based on budget.
How do I know this? Go to ewg.org tapwater database if you are in the USA and key in your zip code. Comparing zip codes for places I’ve lived: 94030, 94507,94553 89503,89506,76450 revealed that we probably should have been using an RO system for our kitchen cooking and coffee water vs. the PUR we used for flavor since we exposed ourselves to radiological contamination for 4 years in some of those places based on the assays at ewg.org🤦♀️Also, in 76450 too much Arsenic etc. but, we do use a Berkey with the Arsenic & Fluoride additional filters for our larger water requirement cooking(pasta etc.) and coffee water and buy bottled RO water. We know this is likely not best & also that with the levels of contaminants that after as little as 3 months of use likely the Berkeys are only filtering out 80 to 90% of the crap that our kidneys and bodies are still exposed to & yeah, too many people with cancer in our area, unbelievably high vs. Nevada which is scary, like 2 to 3 people per block. Also, have looked at RO systems & found 7 stage is expensive and a Durastill while more durable could be a big pain in the butt to clean inevitable deposits ( we used a small countertop distiller for 2 years and exchanged it after the 1st one died after only 8 months of use!) How can anyone get their water right in today’s day and age?
I ordered a pair of PF-2 fluoride filters from USAberkeyfilters.com on Apr 19th of 2022. I was surprised how quickly the order went through because everyone that sells the PF-2 are out of stock. I just had shoulder surgery, so I didn’t get to install them until 2 weeks ago. When I tried to install them, I realized they were the wrong ones. They had sent me the PF-4, not the PF-2 I had ordered. I called customer service and told the lady what had happened. She asked if I had primed them which I said yes. She then said I could not return them because they had water in them. I have had the Big Berkey for 20 years and when they came out with the black Berkey replacement elements which are much better than the white, I got them. That has been close to 15 years ago. I am quite aware that the PF-2 only works on the black filter and the PF-4 are for the older white ceramic 1st generation. USABerkeyfiltes.com out of Las Vegas located at 3225 Mcleod Dr shipped the incorrect water filters to me and now they are refusing to correct their mistake. I called the largest Berkey dealer in the US in Colorado and told them what had happened, and they informed me that a lady called 2 weeks ago and said USAberkeyfilters.com in Vegas had done the exact same thing to her. I know that I’m only out $79.00 but it looks like this company has a history of possible fraud against its customers. I just might get my lawyer involved in this little scam they are pulling on people. The Arizona and Texas State attorneys will be notified also.
Hi Mark
So sorry to hear about this.
I only ever recommend bigberkeywaterfilters.com for this very reason but as you correctly noted the PF-2 fluoride filters are currently out of stock everywhere 🙁
Please keep me posted with how the case goes.
Luke
Black Berkey filters are NOT a good product if you are on a deep well with high iron content. Do not buy. My filters failed in 6 months and I was continuously scrubbing them and priming them. I did receive a new set per warranty but of course they failed. The only solution is an RO system for this situation. Save yourself the hassle and don’t buy Berkey filters with high iron.
Hi Katherine
You are absolutely correct. Berkey filters are not designed for well water / iron contaminated water, which require special filters or RO systems as you correctly suggested. I have written about this extensively in another article.
Stay hydrated,
Luke
I already have a RO system under the sink that’s hooked to my kitchen sink. Can I just remove the RO tank and filters and connect this to the water supply and use the Spicket that we used w the RO system?
Hi Michael
It sounds like something that would be technically possible but I’m not sure if it’s a desirable solution.
Do you have a sufficient level of access to the water supply? Also, how convenient and practical would it be to access water in this way not to mention what would it look like aesthetically since the under-sink RO is designed to be hidden away?
However, please do let me know what happened if you decide to go ahead – I’d be interested to know how it turns out.
Stay hydrated,
Luke
Bought a big Berkeley but, now the water leaves scale and ruined our electric kettle. Not impressed.
Hi Mars
Sounds to me like you got a defective unit so you should be able to get a replacement under warranty.
Stay hydrated,
Luke
can i ask if these berkey filters use carbon..
is it a carbon filtration system?
Hi Georganne
It is my understanding that the tall black filter elements are carbon filters. The Berkey also makes use of other filter methods like micro-filtration etc.
Stay hydrated,
Luke
The upfront cost isn’t that bad at all considering that ANY filtration system has some components that are permanent even the Brita uses a plastic pitcher. Also the longevity of the Berkey filters is way beyond that of others so… in reality the ongoing costs are less than many others ESPECIALLY given that the fluoride filter option exists where with others it isn’t even available. Cleaning the filter system, unless you are using bad well water, should be about every 2 months and take less time than say going to the store to buy new filters for your less effective Brita.
The Big Berkey special on Amazon is not available any longer.
Hi Michael
Sorry about that, the Amazon offer keeps disappearing but here is a direct link to Berkey USA that has lower prices than Amazon.
Best wishes,
Luke
Hi Luke,
Have you ever heard of the water machine? I’m trying to find the best filtration for my apartment. I bought the aquasana shower head and waiting for it to be delivered. I am still researching for a system for kitchen sink.
Hi Lauren
No I’m not familiar with the Water Machine. Are you looking for something like an under sink filter or a whole house filter system?
Stay Hydrated,
Luke