The Berkey water filtration system sat in my Amazon cart for well over a year before I finally purchased it, and boy I sure wish I bought it sooner! It has definitely been one of the best purchases I’ve made in a long time! Unfortunately, our drinking water is often laced with chlorine, lead, harmful bacteria, and chemicals. Bottled water can still contain these contaminants and can get really expensive not to mention, harmful to our environment.
However, shopping for a water filtration system can be confusing and a bit overwhelming with so many products on the market. One thing I loved about the Berkey is that it’s really simple, the filters last a long time, and it’s great for an emergency. In fact it was after our third hurricane scare this summer, that I decided it was time to get prepared and purchase the Berkey.
Check out my pros and cons for buying the Berkey system, which system would work best for you, and the links to where you can purchase below.
First off the Pros:
- The Berkey System is inexpensive! I didn’t want to spend a lot on a water filtration system, and the Berkey is pretty cheap compared to similar products on the market, with the basic system starting at $175 you cant go wrong.
- It’s really simple! It doesn’t need to be hooked up to a water source, each system comes with everything you need right in the box, and the countertop design makes it portable and easy to use, especially for traveling families and emergencies.
- Perfect for emergencies! We all know that fresh water is one of the most important things we need in an emergency, and the Berkey system is perfect for that because it doesn’t require electricity. You literally can take raw pond or lake water and turn it into drinkable water!
- The Berkey System removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, pesticides, herbicides, organic solvents, heavy metals, and so much more! It’s actually pretty incredible what it filters out, all while keeping the beneficial minerals we need. Check out the list of contaminants it removes here!
- The filters last forever! Ok maybe not forever but seriously a long time! The black water filters last for 6,000 gallons of water, or over 5 years.
- The system is attractive on my counter. Unlike other systems, the Berkey looks really nice on the counter, and its stainless steel chambers are made with high quality materials proven to last a long time.
- The water tastes great!
A Few Cons:
- Filling the reserve chamber. While it’s really not that hard, sometimes we forget to fill the chamber, and then we have to wait for the water to filter through. It’s not a huge deal breaker, but sometimes it can be a little annoying.
- Over-filling the lower chamber. When we first got the Berkey we thought that if we just kept the top chamber full, it would filter to the bottom, and we would always have water. We were wrong, the water in the upper chamber will keep filtering down until its empty and it will overflow the bottom chamber. This has happened a bunch of times and its irritating to constantly clean up water, but we learned our lesson and now we only put in the top what the bottom can fit.
Types of Berkey Systems
- Travel Berkey (1.5 gallons): Perfect for the single person, couple or traveler
- Big Berkey (2.25 gallons): Great for a couple (this is the one I have).
- Royal Berkey (3 gallons): Good for large families, 2-6 people.
- Imperial Berkey (4.5 gallons): 4-8 People.
- Crown Berkey (6 gallons): 6-12 People.
If you’re in the market for a water filter I hope you consider the Berkey System, you will not be disappointed. I would love to hear your comments or questions on the Berkey below.
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