I am looking into getting a Berkey, but will also look into a few of the things you mentioned. The product was suggested by Healthwyze. https://healthwyze.org/search/results.cgi?)QUERY=berkey
I no longer believe anything that EWG puts on their web site. Lead free mama Tamara Rubin has been trying to get them to remove their verifications on children’s products with lead. https://tamararubin.com/2022/12/template-letter-for-lead-safe-mama-readers-to-use-to-write-ewg-asking-them-to-remove-lead-contaminated-products-from-their-site/

Here is one of the products she has tested. https://tamararubin.com/2025/07/ewg-verified-baby-sunscreen/. She is currently working hard to let people know about EWG and their practices.

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

Any advice would be appreciated.

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?

Hi Norman

Here are NSF/ANSI Berkey test results from Envirotek Laboratories dated 10/15/2014.

Stay hydrated,
Luke

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

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

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 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

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