Black Berkey Purification Elements (set of 2)

(14 customer reviews)

$237.00

In stock

In stock

Description

 

Black Berkey Purification Elements:

  • These elements combine the age-old process of micro-porous filtration coupled with modern state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality materials
  • Elements are self-sterilizing and cleanable (Berkey Maintenance Instructions)
  • Operate on the principles of both Ionic “absorption” and “adsorption”
  • Black Berkey elements do not remove beneficial minerals from the water
  • Lifespan: 22,700 Liters (6,000 Gallons) per set of two, approximately 4-5 years if purifying 10-12 liters/day, everyday, all year
  • What exactly is removed?
  • VIRUSES >99.999%
  • PATHOGENIC BACTERIA, CYSTS AND PARASITES >99.9999%
  • HEAVY METALS – Reduced by up to 95%
  • Check out the latest lab results here, by Mike Adams, The Health Ranger.
  • CHLORINE, VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs), TRIHALOMETHANES, RADIOLOGICALS, INORGANIC MINERALS – Removed to below detectable limits
  • RUST, SILT, SEDIMENT, FOUL TASTE AND ODORS – Removed or reduced
  • Complete description and lab test results:  Black Berkey Purification Elements
  • One brown priming washer is included with each set of 2 elements
  • The Berkey Filter Priming Kit is a very useful tool to assist in your cleaning and re-priming maintenance
  • The Black Berkey Primer Hand Pump is great for use off grid where you may not have water pressure

Berkey Lab Results

(Independent 3rd Party Laboratory Tests, scroll down for the links to reports.)

FILTRATION SPECIFICATIONS: Black Berkey® Purification Elements are more powerful than any other gravity filter element currently available.  The elements have a unique purification capability that is due to their unique structure. The micro-pores within the Black Berkey® Elements are so small that viruses and pathogenic bacteria are simply not able to pass through them. Many water filters on the market may claim to be a water purifier, but do not meet the performance specifications required for this classification. In order to be classified as a water purifier, a water treatment device must remove at least 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria and reduce viruses by 99.99%. The Black Berkey® Purification Elements can be classified as water purifiers because they remove 99.9999999% of pathogenic bacteria and 99.999% of viruses, which greatly exceeds the standard. 

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

 

The Black Berkey® Purification Elements have been tested and confirmed to remove or greatly reduce the contaminants listed below:

VIRUSES – Removed to  >99.999% (Log 5) Exceeds Purification Standard (Log 4): MS2 Coliphage ; Fr Coliphage.

PATHOGENIC BACTERIA (AND SURROGATES) – Removed to >99.9999999% Exceeds Purification Standard (Log 6): Bacillus atrophaeus (Anthrax surrogate); Raoultella terrigena (Pathogenic Bacteria Surrogate); Salmonella Enterica.

TRIHALOMETHANES – Removed to >99.8% (Below Lab Detectable Limits): Bromodichloromethane ; Bromoform ; Chloroform ; Dibromochloromethane.

INORGANIC MINERALS Removed to Below Lab Detectable Limits: Chloramine; Chloride;  Chlorine Residual (Total Residual Chlorine); Free Chlorine

HEAVY METALS (HIGH & LOW pH LEVELS) Aluminum (>99%); Antimony (>99.9%); Barium (>80%); Beryllium (>99.9%); Bismuth (>99.9%); Cadmium (>99.7%); Cobalt (>95%); Chromium (>99.9%); Chromium 6 (>99.85%); Copper (>99.9%); Iron (>99.9%); Lead (>99.9%); Mercury (>99.9%); Molybdenum (>90%); Nickel (>99.9%); Vanadium (>87.5%); Zinc (>99.9%).

PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS CONTAMINANTS – Removed to >99.9% Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Carbamazepine; Ciprofloxacin HCl; Erythromycin USP; Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim; Bisphenol A; Diclofenac Sodium; 4-para-Nonylphenol; 4-tert-Octylphenol; Primidone; Progestrone; Gemfibrozil; Ibuprofen; Naproxen Sodium; Triclosan.

Pesticides & (Semi) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Removed to Below Laboratory Detectable Limits

  • 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
  • 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA)
  • 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
  • 1,1,2-Trichloroethane
  • 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane
  • 1,1-Dichloroethane (1,1-DCA)
  • 1,1-Dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE)
  • 1,1-Dichloropropene
  • 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
  • 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
  • 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
  • 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
  • 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
  • 1,2-Dibromoethane
  • 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 123a)
  • 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
  • 1,2-Dichlorobenzene-d4
  • 1,2-Dichloroethane
  • 1,2-Dichloropropane
  • 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
  • 1,3-Dichlorobenzene
  • 1,3-Dichloropropene
  • 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
  • 2,2-Dichloropropane
  • 2,4,5-T
  • 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
  • 2,4-D
  • 2,4-DB
  • 2-Butanone (MEK)
  • 2-Chlorotoluene
  • 2-Hexanone
  • 2-Methyl-2-propanol
  • 3,5-Dichlorobenzoic Acid
  • 3-Hydroxycarbofuran
  • 4-Bromofluorobenzene
  • 4-Chlorotoluene
  • 4-Isopropyltoluene
  • 4-Methyl-2-pentanone
  • 4-Nitrophenol4,4′-DDD4,4′-DDE
  • 4,4″-DDT
  • 5-Hydroxydicamba
  • Acetone
  • Acenaphthylene
  • Acifluorfen
  • Alachlor
  • Aldicarb
  • Aldicarb Sulfone
  • Aldicarb Sulfoxide
  • Aldrin
  • alpha-Chlorodane
  • Ametryn
  • Anthracene
  • Aroclor (1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260)
  • Atraton
  • Atrazine
  • Baygon
  • Bentazon
  • Benzene
  • Bromacil
  • Bromoacetic Acid
  • Bromobenzene
  • Bromochloromethane
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromomethane
  • Bromoform
  • Butachlor
  • Butylate
  • Butylbenzylphthalate
  • Carbaryl
  • Carbofuran
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Carboxin
  • Chloramben
  • Chlordane
  • Chloroacetic Acid
  • Chlorobenzene
  • Chlorobenzilate
  • Chloroethane
  • Chloroform
  • Chloromethane
  • Chlorpropham
  • Chlorprophane
  • cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
  • cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
  • cis-Nonachlor
  • Cycloate
  • Dacthal Acid
  • Dalapon
  • Diazinona
  • Dibromoacetic Acid
  • Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)
  • Dibromomethane
  • Dicamba
  • Dichloroacetic Acid
  • Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 12)
  • Dichloromethane
  • Dichlorvos
  • Diclorprop
  • DieldrinDiethylphthalate
  • Dinoseb
  • Diphenamid
  • Disulfoton
  • Disulfoton Sulfone
  • Disulfoton Sulfoxidea
  • Endrin
  • EPTC
  • Ethoprop
  • Ethylbenzene
  • Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
  • Fenamiphos
  • Fenarimol
  • Fluorobenzene
  • Fluridone
  • gamma-Chlorodane
  • Glyphosate
  • Halo acidic Acids (HAA5)
  • Heptachlor
  • Heptachlor Epoxide
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • Hexachlorobutadiene (CCC)
  • Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
  • HexazinoneIsophorone
  • Isopropylbenzene (Cumene)
  • Lindane (Gamma-BHC)
  • Merphos
  • Methiocarb
  • Methomyl
  • Methoxychlor
  • Methylcyclohexane-methane
  • Methyl Paraoxon
  • Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
  • Metolachlor
  • Metribuzin
  • Mevinphos
  • MGK 264
  • Molinate
  • Monochlorobenzene
  • m-Xylenes
  • Naphthalene
  • Napropamide
  • n-Butylbenzene
  • Norflurazon
  • n-Propylbenzene
  • Oxamyl
  • o-Xylene
  • Pebulate
  • Pentachlorophenol
  • Picloram
  • Prometon
  • Prometryn
  • Pronamidea
  • Propazine
  • p-Xylenes
  • sec-Butylbenzene
  • Simazine
  • Simetryn
  • Stirofos
  • Styrene
  • Tebuthiuron
  • Terbacil
  • Terbufos
  • Terbutryn
  • tert-Butylbenzene
  • Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
  • Tetrahydrofuran (THF)
  • Thiobencarb
  • Toluene
  • Toxaphene
  • trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
  • trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
  • trans-Nonachlor
  • Triademefon
  • Tribromoacetic Acid
  • Trichloroacetic Acid
  • Trichloroethene (TCE)
  • Trichloroethylene
  • Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC 11)
  • Tricyclazole
  • Trifuralin
  • Vernolate
  • Vinyl Chloride
  • and many more*

ALSO REMOVES OR REDUCES: Arsenic (>99.9%); Escherichia coli (E. Coli) (>99.999%); Fluorene (>99.9%); Manganese (>99.9%); MBAS (>96.67%); Nitrites (>95%); PCB’s (>99.9%); Petroleum Products (Gasoline, Diesel, Crude Oil, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, Refined Oil- All >99.9%); Selenium (>99.9%); Thallium (>99.5%); Rust; Silt; Sediment; Turbidity; Foul Tastes and Odors.

CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO VIEW THE 3rd PARTY LAB TEST RESULTS: Black-Berkey-Heavy-Metal-Chemical-VOC-Pharmaceutical-Petrol-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Virus-Bacteria-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-VOC-Pesticide-THM-HAA5-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Lead-Reduction-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Uranium-Radiological-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Heavy-Metal-MBAS-Chlorine-Turbidity-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Gross-Beta-Radiologica-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Gross-Alpha-Radiological-Removal-Test-Report

Black-Berkey-Perfluorinated-Chemical-Removal-Test-Report

 

Also Notable: Mike Adams,  the ‘Health Ranger’, via ICP-MS instrumentation with parts per billion sensitivity independently tested the most popular water filters for removal of toxic heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic) and elements with radioactive isotopes (uranium, strontium, cesium).  Click here to see the proof that Berkey was by far the best Gravity Water Filter tested.

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FAQ

I understand that the media used within the Berkey PF-2™ elements is activated alumina. Is that the same thing as aluminum?

Our PF-2 filters reduce fluoride and arsenic in your water using the media aluminum oxide (aka activated alumina). As a consumer, it’s important to know that pure aluminum and aluminum oxide have vastly different characteristics. Pure aluminum is water-soluble, it is highly reactive and it is associated with negative health effects. By contrast aluminum oxide is not water-soluble; it is inert, is very stable and is not associated with negative health effects. To learn more about aluminum oxide and separate fact from fiction, click here. To view independent lab results, click here.

How do I transport my Berkey system?

Prior to transporting or moving any Berkey® system, the Black Berkey® Purification Elements must first be removed. Failure to remove the elements from the system can result in broken stems. Place the elements in secure and water-tight packaging. The top and bottom of the stainless steel systems nest within each other for easy transport (remove spigot from the lower chamber). Please note: Failure to remove the elements from the system can result in broken stems. This is not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

What is the most convenient method for filling up the upper chamber of my system with water?

Most people use a pitcher to pour water into the upper chamber; however, if you have a spray hose on your sink, using it to refill the system is a very convenient method.

How should I clean my stainless steel chambers?

Follow these two steps: Wash lower chamber once per month with soapy dishwater. In areas with hard water, calcium scale may build up on spigot and chambers after prolonged use. To remove, soak affected part(s) in vinegar or a 50-50% mix of vinegar and water for about 15 minutes. Wipe away calcium scale with a ScotchBrite pad or soft brush then wash with soapy dishwater and rinse.

I want to be extra safe. What can I do to disinfect the water before filtering it?

The Berkey water purification systems can efficiently purify raw untreated pond, lake and river water. However, always use the cleanest and clearest water possible. As an additional precaution, if using a source of water that you believe might contain extreme viral and bacteriological contamination, it is recommended by the CDC, EPA and other organizations that approximately sixteen drops of plain bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or iodine per gallon be added to treat the source water before purifying. This should kill minute pathogens such as viruses, within 30 minutes. The disinfectant will be removed from the treated water entirely with the Berkey system, including any odor or taste. For more information about disinfecting water, please reference the following links. cdc.gov or  water.epa.gov.

How do I collect a water sample?

When testing a water sample, we recommend using this standard testing protocol.

What type of steel is used for the housing of Berkey® systems?

New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. uses only the highest quality, highly polished AISI 304 grade stainless steel, known for its high corrosion and heat-resistant properties, in our Berkey® Water systems. It is equivalent to high quality 18/8 stainless steel cookware.

When I boil or freeze water from my Berkey® system I see white floating things in the water. What is this?

This is an issue that mostly occurs with hard (heavily mineralized) water. The healthiest water has a higher PH level because it has less acidity. When the PH level of the purified water is raised, the acidity of the water goes down and the water is no longer able to hold as many minerals in solution.  When this happens the minerals begin to precipitate out over time and,  depending on the mineral composition,  they will either sink to the bottom or float to the top.  This process is known as flocculation and the precipitated minerals are usually referred to as “white floaters”.  The bottom line is that this is nothing to be concerned about. The white floaters are minerals that were already in your water; they are now simply visible whereas they were previously invisible due to their suspension in an ionic form.

The water in the upper chamber of my Berkey system does not drain all the way. Is this normal?

Yes, it is normal and not unusual for the last 1.3 cm. to 2.5 cm. of water to remain in the upper chamber. By design, the water must pass through very fine micropores within the elements in order to pass from the upper chamber to the lower. The lower the water level in the upper chamber, the lower the pressure available to force the water through the micropores. You may have noticed that the system purifies much faster when full than when half full. That’s because there is more water pressure. The only way to remedy this problem would be to enlarge the pores of the filter elements. This would, of course, reduce the efficiency of the Berkey purification system. During each cycle, the water left from the previous cycle mixes with the water from the current cycle and is then purified. There is no need to be concerned about excess water during normal use. Should you, however, discontinue using your filter for a period of time such as during a vacation, it would be best to empty both chambers before departing and leave them upside down to dry on the dish rack.

How Important is Having Potable Water During an Emergency?

Star Advertiser uploaded an excellent article detailing the necessity of having clean water in the wake of natural disasters.  We definitely giving it a read to know the best ways to be prepared for a lack of clean water.

What is the TDS reading of the purified water?

A TDS meter does not register much of a change between the pre-filtered water and the post-filtered water. This is normal, and the answer has to do with what a TDS meter actually measures.  According to tdsmeter.com, “Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water, expressed in units of mg per unit volume of water (mg/L), also referred to as parts per million (ppm). TDS is directly related to the purity of water and the quality of water purification systems and affects everything that consumes, lives in, or uses water, whether organic or inorganic, whether for better or for worse.” This statement is both correct and incorrect.  It is correct in what a TDS measurement consists of, namely the “total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water”. It is incorrect in its conclusion that TDS is related to the purity of the water and the quality of the water purification system.  If the measure of a water purification system was how close it could make water to pure H2O, then maybe it would be correct. But, people need minerals to live. Thus, helpful minerals in your water are actually a good thing.  A quality water purification system should filter out things that are harmful to your body but leave in helpful things such as minerals. Black Berkey elements are designed to leave healthful and beneficial minerals in your water and to extract the unwanted heavy metals such as lead and mercury as well as sedimentary minerals such as iron oxide and aluminum. So, when our customers use a TDS meter, what they find is that the reading both before and after the water has gone through the Black Berkey elements about the same.  And they are correct. The Black Berkey elements do not take out all of the beneficial minerals.  Thus, of the things that a TDS meter will actually detect, the Black Berkey elements will only remove the unwanted heavy metals such as lead and mercury as well as sedimentary minerals such as iron oxide and aluminum.  Therefore, your TDS reading will not change much unless you have a significant amount of heavy metals or sedimentary minerals in your water. A TDS meter does not measure the amount of biological and chemical contaminants. The important thing is to not simply rely on a TDS meter for your measure of whether your water is good. You can have low TDS count water that has harmful bacteria in it. You can have high TDS count water that is perfectly safe (e.g. – pure, unpolluted ocean saltwater…albeit, you wouldn’t drink it, but that’s only because the mineral is salt). Thus, make sure you know what your TDS meter is actually telling you.

How should I store my Black Berkey® Purification Elements and how long is their shelf-life?

If you have used your elements: The method of storage  depends upon the length of time that the Black Berkey® Purification Elements will not be used: If the filters will not be used between 4 to 15 days and you want to avoid the re-priming process, remove the filters  from the system, place them into a sealable sandwich bag or container and place the filters in the refrigerator towards the front to ensure that they do not freeze. This will allow the filters to stay mostly saturated so that re-priming is not typically necessary. If for any reason the filters run slower than ususal, re-prime  them until the exterior wall of the filter begins to sweat beads of water for 10 seconds. For long term storage, we recommend drying and sealing the filters. The key is to ensure they are bone-dry  before storing them long-term, to prevent any potential bacterial growth. One  option for drying your filters is to leave them on a window sill for one to three days and allow them to air-dry. We also offer a tool to assist in both priming and purging. This tool is called a Black Berkey Primer™. The benefit to purging the Black Berkey® Purification Elements is that they are dried very quickly. Once the filters are bone-dry, place them in a storage bag such as a large, seal-able sandwich bag. The elements are extremely powerful and can absorb odors and smoke from the air. By sealing them in a storage bag, they should not absorb any odors from the air. When you are ready to re-use your filters, clean them by scrubbing the outside with a Scotch-Brite® pad or stiff brush. Then re-prime the filters either manually or with the  Black Berkey Primer™ before putting them back in the system. If you have never used your elements: If the elements are unopened and in their original packaging, please ensure you do not store the elements in an area that also has strong smells to them, such as a laundry room or garage. The elements have carbon as one of their components so it is possible for them to absorb the odors of the room they are stored in. For example, if they are stored in a laundry room, it is possible for the media in the elements to pick up the odor of highly fragranced items such as powdered laundry soap. ** When storing the chambers of your Berkey® system, it is best to empty both chambers before storing them, because anytime water is still, it becomes stagnant and can produce bacteria. We recommend washing your Berkey® system with soapy water before leaving it to dry.

Do your Black Berkey® Purification Elements remove Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide and pesticide. Glyphosate is primarily released into the environment via runoff water and predominately applied as a spray for agricultural purposes. This contaminant has recently become the topic of discussion because of its association with acute or chronic exposure leading to various potential health issues or concerns. The EPA has extensive information published about Glyphosate, particularly about it being in drinking water. Click here to view basic information about Glyphosate in drinking water. Black Berkey® Purification Elements will reduce Glyphosate in your water by greater than 75%, exceeding the laboratories reporting limits. Please click here to view our Organic Test Results. To purchase a set of Black Berkey® Purification Elements, please click here. Additional resources for glyphosate can be found through the Environmental Working Group and the National Institutes for Health 

Do the Black Berkey® Purification Elements remove cyanobacteria associated with algae blooms?

Algae blooms are composed of floating colonies of cyanobacteria. While New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. has not conducted specific testing for cyanobacteria, our expectation is that the reduction of cyanobacteria should occur because: Cyanobacterial cells range in size from 0.5 micrometers to 40 micrometers. A “micron” is an abbreviated term for “micrometer”, or a millionth of a meter (1/1,000,000 meters). This is about .00004 inches. For size comparison, a human red blood cell is about 5 microns across. A human hair is about 75 microns across (depending on the person).” * Working down to a smaller scale… .5-40 microns would be 500-40,000 nanometers in size. The Black Berkey® Purification Elements can reduce viruses down to the nanometer scale, in the tested range of 24-26 nanometers: http://berkeywaterkb.com/is-the-ms2-fr-coliphage-still-known-to-be-a-good-indicator-of-virus-filtration-at-least-one-article-suggests-that-it-might-not-be-do-you-have-tests-on-any-other-viruses/ 24-26 nanometers is .024 to .026 microns…in other words, much smaller than cyanobacterial cells found in algae blooms. The fact that Black Berkey® purification elements have been tested to remove viruses to the nanometer range suggests that contaminants much larger in size, such as cyanobacteria, should also be removed. Nevertheless, since NMCL has no specific testing for cyanobacteria, we cannot make any specific claims for cyanobacterial reduction. NMCL always recommends that you use the cleanest source of water available, whenever possible. * http://www.bacteria-world.com/how-big-micron.htm

If NMCL’s recent test results show that the Black Berkey® Purification Elements reduce Fluoride, then why do I need the Berkey PF-2™ Post Filter Elements?

NMCL’s most recent laboratory testing indicates that the Black Berkey® Purification Elements will initially reduce Fluoride up to 99.9%. Typically, carbon-based elements that reduce Fluoride begin to lose that ability rather quickly. This may be the case with Black Berkey® Elements as their efficiency at removing Fluoride likely plays out long before the 3,000-gallon life of the element. There are a number of filters on the market that utilize carbonized bone char (a media that NMCL purposely chooses not to use), and that make claims for Fluoride reduction, without informing their customers that the fluoride removing ability of the filters plays out quickly. The reason this occurs is because it takes a very large amount of media to remove small amounts of Fluoride. Therefore, there is not enough media in such filters to remove Fluoride effectively over the long term. For example, we have testing for a competitor’s 3-filter system that utilizes bone char for their Fluoride removal claims and, as one would expect, those elements become quickly exhausted. Testing shows that their efficiency declines from 100% removal to 81.4% removal after filtering a mere 45 gallons. This is equivalent to only 15 gallons per element required for them to experience a dramatic ~20% decline in efficiency. This same effect likely occurs with Black Berkey® Elements after a few hundred gallons. For that reason NMCL developed a more durable and longer lasting solution for Fluoride reduction by creating the replaceable Berkey® PF-2™ Fluoride reduction elements. The media in a set of Berkey® PF-2™ elements can reliably remove Fluoride contaminants for up to 1,000 gallons, which is less than the 3,000 gallon life of the Black Berkey® Elements but again, that is why they were designed to be replaceable. This enables the users to reliably remove Fluoride contaminants from their water while taking full advantage of the 3,000 gallon life of their Black Berkey® Elements. The Black Berkey® Purification Element’s job is to remove a wide variety of potential contaminants, while the Berkey® PF-2™ Post Filter’s job is to remove Fluoride contaminants that the Black Berkey® Purification Elements may begin to miss after extended use. Actual capacity is dependent on the presence of other competing contaminants in the source water. High levels of arsenic and heavy metals may reduce the capacity and efficiency of these elements.

Comparison of Berkey® Purification to Reverse Osmosis and Distillation

Healthfulness of Reverse Osmosis and Distillation Based on current research, most health experts are no longer recommending drinking Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water on a long-term basis because these methods strip out all of the beneficial minerals from the water, making the water an acidic “hypotonic” solution. A chemist will tell you that when a hypotonic (de-mineralized) solution comes into contact with a “hypertonic” (mineralized) solution, the minerals within the hypertonic solution will transfer out of hypertonic solution and into the hypotonic solution until equilibrium is achieved. What this simply means is that when one drinks hypotonic water, the minerals in the blood and lymphatic system, which are hypertonic, transfer into the hypotonic Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water that is consumed and the minerals are flushed out of the body upon urination. In an effort to re-mineralize, the blood and lymphatic systems then begin to scavenge for minerals from other parts of the body, such as bones and other organs, and this process repeats itself every time de-mineralized hypotonic water is re-consumed. Several studies suggest that people who drink de-mineralized water (hypotonic) over a long period of time tend to be more prone to degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis. Berkey® Purification systems do not remove all of the beneficial minerals from the water, but they do extract harmful heavy metals such as lead and mercury as well as sedimentary minerals such as iron oxide. Therefore, the TDS reading will not typically change much unless there are a lot of heavy metals or sedimentary minerals within the source water. Pathological Removal Capability of a Reverse Osmosis System Reverse Osmosis does not remove pathogenic bacteria and that is why it is often necessary to add an additional UV light to the system. However, the UV sometimes does not kill all the bacteria because any turbidity in the water can create shaded spots, preventing some bacteria from being exposed. Typically, the UV is installed before the bladder tank; however it is in the bladder tank that bacteria usually colonize. Therefore, if the bladder tank is not sterilized on a regular basis, it becomes a source for bacteriological contamination that is never exposed to UV. Additionally, the carcasses of the dead bacteria remain within the drinking water with a Reverse Osmosis system, whereas they are removed by the Black Berkey® Purification elements. Tankless Reverse Osmosis Systems While some newer tankless Reverse Osmosis systems have overcome the issue of bacteria colonizing in the bladder tank, these systems have their own set of inherent issues, including: TDS Creep:  without a flush tank, the initial water coming out can taste horrid, due to increased TDS in the water. High Failure Rate:  some tankless models have already been removed from the market, due to numerous issues, including high rates of failure. Noise: depending on the specific model and features, some units are extremely noisy to operate. Excessive Water Waste:  this is a problem with both standard and tankless Reverse Osmosis systems. Cost: with multiple membranes being used, the overall cost per gallon, can be even more expensive than older style Reverse Osmosis systems. Cost  Reverse Osmosis systems typically are the most expensive due to the cost of the system and the additional expense to have the system plumbed in. Next in cost would be a Distillation unit. A Berkey® system will typically be the least expensive of the three. With respect to cost per gallon of water, calculated upon the cost per gallon for replacement filters and energy costs, Distillation systems and Reverse Osmosis systems that are properly maintained typically cost between 35-65 cents per gallon. A Berkey® system typically costs about 1.8 cents per gallon. Maintenance  Reverse Osmosis systems can have up to four filter elements, with each needing to be changed at differing intervals from four months up to two years. This requires that the water pressure be shut off and part or all of the system be disassembled for maintenance. Additionally, the bladder tank should be washed with a chlorine solution at six-month intervals to kill any colonizing bacteria. Distillation systems need to be soaked and cleaned with vinegar solution to remove the scale, typically after each gallon or two. All Berkey® systems are easy to disassemble and clean. Typically the lower chamber should be washed in ordinary dishwater once per month. Supporting Research  https://www.uswatersystems.com/blog/2010/10/r-i-p-merlin-tankless-ro-system/ https://www.uswatersystems.com/blog/2009/11/ge-merlin-fact-of-fiction/ http://www.purewatergazette.net/tankless-reverse-osmosis-august-21-2015/ http://www.best-water-purification-reviews.com/tankless-reverse-osmosis.html

Additional information

Weight 0.7 kg
Dimensions 33 × 23 × 9 cm

14 reviews for Black Berkey Purification Elements (set of 2)

  1. Beryl Balfour

    We have been using Berkey products for 30 odd years now. Their sports bottles were amazing on our remote Pacific Island trips – nobody in our team got sick, considering the questionable tanks we had to scoop from. Scott has been amazing. He answers questions promptly when e-mailing, gives good, truthful advice, the delivery is quick – indeed, excellent service, always willing to help when needs arise. Thank you for your patience when confused at times. Well done Scott, you deserve success.

  2. David

    I have had good experiences with ordering, receiving and using products from Conscious Water and plan to continue in the future.

    Thanks for the good service.

  3. Conscious Water

    Claire, My apologies on the delay. I did not receive your email and this comment ended up in my SPAM folder somehow. I have over 7000 very happy customers and being of service to you is of top priority. Please let me know how I can help. Please email me: [email protected] or call 705.305.2225.

  4. Paul Dee (verified owner)

    Paul Dee – April 28th 2014:

    I camp and live out of my small camper about 4 months a year. Last year I spent my time fly-fishing up country in British Columbia at a few remote elite mountain lakes in God’s country and I have to say I REALLY encourage anyone who doubts the black Berkey filtration system, buy it!

    I bought the BPA free transparent blue unit with the black Berkey filters, unbreakable in my travels. Everyday I’d just bucket-fill my lake water and dump it into the top reservoir and just let it do it’s thing. I’d go fishing, come back to camp, start laughing only to see the lower container full to the brim and overflowing all over the camp table!

    Kind of felt guilty thinking about the rest of the world, short of water unlike us here in BC, this Province being water heaven and here I have super pure & super clean fresh water not only for drinking, but also brushing teeth and washing dishes with and even enough for wasting by overflow. ;P

    Well…I’m going up country again this year, but before I do, I want to purchase two more black filters making my unit having four filters in total…that will help increase my drip time by half…and all I can say is I LUV MY BERKEY 😉

  5. Paul Dee

    I camp and live out of my small camper about 4 months a year. Last year I spent my time fly-fishing up country in British Columbia at a few remote elite mountain lakes in God's country and I have to say I REALLY encourage anyone who doubts the black Berkey filtration system, buy it!

    I bought the BPA free transparent blue unit with the black Berkey filters, unbreakable in my travels. Everyday I'd just bucket-fill my lake water and dump it into the top reservoir and just let it do it's thing. I'd go fishing, come back to camp, start laughing only to see the lower container full to the brim and overflowing all over the camp table!

    Kind of felt guilty thinking about the rest of the world, short of water unlike us here in BC, this Province being water heaven and here I have super pure & super clean fresh water not only for drinking, but also brushing teeth and washing dishes with and even enough for wasting by overflow. ;P

    Well…I'm going up country again this year, but before I do, I want to purchase two more black filters making my unit having four filters in total…that will help increase my drip time by half…and all I can say is I LUV MY BERKEY 😉

  6. Rebecca (verified owner)

    On behalf of Children in Haiti – Thank you!
    I recently returned from a trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti…and thanks to the generosity of my parents and Scott (!), was able to set up three Berkey water filtration systems for two orphanages. The children and caregivers were overwhelmed to know their water would be clean and safe to drink! It was difficult to see the little ones drinking unfiltered ‘truck water’ that was an expensive and therefore, scarce source which should absolutely have in the least been boiled before they drank it (filtered drinking water being even more expensive). Once the filter system was set up, in the words of Manmi (the head caregiver) – “they can get clean water whenever they want!” So, Thank you Scott for your contribution to the health of these children! My hope is to return in the near future to continue this project…bringing ‘Health in a Cup’…and following-up with each place a system is installed when the filters need replacing!
    Looking forward to continued contact, and more stories to share!

  7. Pat

    Hi Scott,
    Well I have to say that after taking some Berkey water over to my mother and sister’s house, they were both instantly hooked. My mother insisted on pouring a little into each of our water glasses and having a little “toast” before trying it … very cute, but really it’s a water worth toasting. It’s pure and clear and wonderful… It’s absolutely refreshing and a treat to drink, knowing what is NOT in the water.
    ~ Pat
    P.S. Someone wrote in pencil on the invoice “Enjoy your conscious Water Pat :)” I have to say it was a heart-warming little note, simply because I now feel like we are part of the “Berkey family” … a “real” person was on the other end wishing us well.

  8. David Thompson

    I’m very pleased with the filters. The reviews were good, so I decided to purchase them with the fluoride filters, and I’ve been pleased with them in my big berkey. I estimate I only have to clean the filters twice a year, for single person use. And I’m glad I had them. Because of the drought, our town’s water got a lot of extra minerals in them this year. My water quality didn’t change. And Scott provides friendly customer service.

  9. Kevin (verified owner)

    Finally, a passion for other people’s health combined with strong business skills and prompt service to match!

  10. roccocal

    Steve Cooper
    I ordered 2 extra filters to have as back ups and future replacements. The filters were easy to install and work great. These filters will last along time so hopefully I will remember where I store the extra ones.

  11. Michael Samson and Miki Lee

    These filters are fantastic – we initially purchased them for peace of mind for my family while we’re out at the homestead (aka “the bight”) but have become accustomed to using them in the city as well. You can taste and feel the difference for sure. Thanks for the great service Scott,

    Miki, Michael, and Atticus

  12. Ken Pepperdine (verified owner)

    The elements install easily and their lifespan is one of the compelling reasons to buy a Berkey

  13. Ryan McMiller

    The Berkey filters are genius. I did that math on the water needs for my small family. For such a low cost, these filters will work for about 12 years for my family. This is unbeatable, and I know because I’ve put in hours of researching water filtration products for my family.

  14. Nessie & the Yeti

    Great service from Scott,
    Quick answers & product was quickly delivered without any issues.
    I got these because you can retrofit them on 5 gallons bottles for water filtering in case of emergency.
    Just look up on youtube for DIY videos.
    I feel safer having these.

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