From reverse osmosis to facet Filters, there are so many kinds of water filters on the market, so what makes the Berkey water filter stand out? In this review, I discuss why it has become an essential part of our kitchen kit as well as to our everyday lives and the reasons why the Berkey water filter belongs in your home too.

Remember the movie Erin Brockovich? She helped a small town in California struggling with health issues due to run-off from a local energy company. I don’t know about you, but when the movie was over, I assumed that chemical chromium hexavalent was no longer a problem. 

Turns out, that’s not true. It’s actually in our local water supply – along with hundreds of other contaminants like arsenic and haloacetic acids (formed when chlorine is added to water). These contaminants in our drinking water are known carcinogens that can be linked to causing cancer and endocrine disruptors which interfere with the body’s hormones. This means water from your tap that you use to drink, rinse your produce and for cooking and baking, etc. may actually be causing more harm than good.

Let’s delve into why it’s important to use a water filter and why I recommend the Berkey water filter in particular.

What is a Berkey Water Filter?

The Berkey water filter is a freestanding water purification system that provides healthy drinking water within the family home. As the Berkey water filter is gravity-fed this means it can be used without electricity which is ideal in emergencies. On the topic of emergency preparedness, the Berkey water filter can actually filter water from any source. This includes streams or rivers which again, is an advantage during natural disasters and emergencies.

Berkey water filter is actually classed as a water purifier as it exceeds the industry requirement which is to remove at least 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria and reduce viruses by 99.9%. More importantly, the Berkey filter does this without the use of chemicals such as iodine and chlorine.

In order to purify the water, the Berkey water filter uses microfiltration and ionic absorption. While this sounds complicated, it essentially means the filter is a combination of micro-pores that trap harmful contaminants, so you are left with only the best, purified water. With our bodies made up of around 60% water, it is vital the water we consume is providing us with the minerals and nutrients we need while leaving out the toxins we don’t.

What Does The Berkey Water Filter Do?

The Berkey water purification process sounds complex but put simply you pour water from almost any source into the upper chamber and by the time it reaches the lower chamber you will have pure, healthy drinking water.

In order for this to happen the system relies on Black Berkey Filters which work on three principles: absorption, adsorption, and microfiltration as mentioned earlier. These unique methods are what make the Berkey filter qualify as a water purifier as opposed to just a filter.

How to Check Your Water Quality

I did a search for the water quality in my town of San Diego, California and the results are what ultimately made me choose to get a Berkey Water Filter years ago.

I was floored by the number of contaminants in our water, including arsenic, trihalomethanes (like chloroform and bromoform), haloacetic acids (formed when chlorine is added to water), and chromium hexavalent. Many of these contaminants are known carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) that we were unknowingly drinking, washing, and cooking with.

Don’t just take my word for it however, you can test the quality of your own water supply by simply entering your zip code here. The results will demonstrate that the drinking water currently being consumed by your family may be causing more harm than good and further solidifying why a Berkey water filter is an everyday essential.

How Does it Compare to Others?

It’s also worth noting that compared to other filters on the market, the Berkey filters out the most contaminants. Take a look at the extensive list of contaminants that the Berkey filters out in comparison to other popular filters. For example, the Brita pitcher filter only reduces mercury, copper, cadmium, chlorine, and zinc.

After reading the long list of what it filters out, you’ll be correct to question if the Berkey Water filter removes any beneficial minerals too. The answer is no. Thanks to the filter’s unique design, only harmful heavy metals and contaminants are removed. All beneficial minerals will remain in your water which isn’t always the case with other filtering systems that use reverse osmosis or distillation for example.

You can read direct comparisons of Berkey vs all major filter brands such as Brita, Pur, and Aquatru on their website for extra assurance that it is the healthiest choice.

Which Filter to Choose?

After thorough research, we decided to go with the Royal Berkey which is best for 4-6 people. It’s a great size and isn’t too bulky. Although we use it on our countertop, it can also be used for outdoor activities and during unexpected emergencies.

One of the best features of the Berkey Water Filter is that you have the option to get Fluoride Filters along with a Berkey water filtration system. 

Although fluoride is naturally found in soil, water, and even some foods, it is synthetically added to drinking water in an attempt by water authorities to reduce tooth decay. Critics claim that now we have high fluoride toothpaste, the benefits of fluoride in the water supply are unnecessary. Furthermore, there are several concerns regarding fluoride’s long-term effect on health including issues with bones, neurological development, thyroid problems, and even reproductive issues. Due to this controversy the Berkey fluoride water filter reduces the amount of fluoride in your water by up to 97%.

For life on the go, I also love the Travel Filter Water Bottle which features the brand’s same microfiltration technology making it ideal for hikes, camping, or use on vacation as it can filter contaminants from sources such as lakes, ponds, and foreign water supplies.

Finally, I’d also recommend the Berkey Shower Filter which reduces chlorine by up to 95%. Not only is this better for your skin, but your bathroom too as scale build-up is also greatly reduced.

View the full range of Berkey water filters here, including comparisons of each product to help you make an informed choice.

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Have you tried the Berkey water filter? Let me know in the comments how you find it. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see what other fun things I’m getting up to.