Berkey water fiters (light, filter, system, America)

[Trudysmom]

Does anyone have a Berkey water filter?

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by Trudysmom

Does anyone have a Berkey water filter?

I don't have one yet but I have friends who do and they love theirs. I believe they have the Big Berkey and put all their drinking/cooking water through it.

[stonecypher5413]

We bought an Aquarain instead, and you might want to read this thread comparing the three major gravity-feed water filters before you buy:

Aquarain vs. Big Berkey vs. Katadyn TRK - Survivalist Forum

Here's the basics on why we preferred Aquarain:

1. American-made
2. Filter ratings based on "end-of-life" performance, not new
3. Ceramics are made in small, computerized kilns for uniform consistency and reliability
4. Coconut-shell carbon outperforms coal-base carbon
5. Silver is incorporated in the carbon bed
6. Pore size down to .1 micron (near absolute)
7. Slower filtration rate for higher quality
8. Ceramics will withstand 200 cleanings
9. Stainless-steel housing with handles and overflow safeguard
10. Exceeds EPA purifier standards for bacteria and protozoa removal
11. Less expensive

[Trudysmom]

Is the aquarain small? I read it is very small.

[stonecypher5413]

From the specs:

"The AquaRain Model 404 features 4 high performance filter cartridges set in a 3 gallon stainless steel housing. When kept full, you can produce up to one gallon of clean and safe water per hour for drinking and cooking. The Model 404 is approximately 10 inches in diameter and is 21 1/2 inches tall including the stainless steel lid and rubber base."

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by stonecypher5413

We bought an Aquarain instead, and you might want to read this thread comparing the three major gravity-feed water filters before you buy:

Aquarain vs. Big Berkey vs. Katadyn TRK - Survivalist Forum

Here's the basics on why we preferred Aquarain:

1. American-made
2. Filter ratings based on "end-of-life" performance, not new
3. Ceramics are made in small, computerized kilns for uniform consistency and reliability
4. Coconut-shell carbon outperforms coal-base carbon
5. Silver is incorporated in the carbon bed
6. Pore size down to .1 micron (near absolute)
7. Slower filtration rate for higher quality
8. Ceramics will withstand 200 cleanings
9. Stainless-steel housing with handles and overflow safeguard
10. Exceeds EPA purifier standards for bacteria and protozoa removal
11. Less expensive

Perhaps you could include a link to the info.? One cannot access your link on the other forum without membership. Thanks!

[harry chickpea]

We have a Berkey. It was one of my best buys ever. The whole idea of this type of filter has been around for years. I've found reference of the idea (using ceramics and a silver impregnation for sanitation) in magazines from the 1930s. Using porous rock like limestone to purify drinking water goes back even further. In the Caribbean, many cabinet systems using buckets and limestone were destroyed during the 1920s for fear of them being breeding spots for mosquitoes.

Ratings between various systems are just splitting hairs. The core concept is exactly the same, and if you sent water from each to a lab, you wouldn't find any significant difference in a double blind study.

[lifelongMOgal]

One reas n I haven't purchased a Berkey yet is that I don't know which filters to go with, the ceramic, the carbon, or some mix of the two. Recommendations from owners?

I'd be filtering "city water" but I have a cistern as a back-up H2O source. Ideally I'd like whatever filtration system to be able to clean the cistern water, on a small scale, for drinking/cooking.

[Trudysmom]

I ordered the Berkey Royal. I have just the black filters for now, but I may add the ceramic as well. It will arrive soon!

[HappyTexan]

They have a new one out...mighty nice looking.

Berkey Light Water Filter