The Big Berkey water filter is a durable stainless steel gravity-fed countertop water filtration system that is capable of removing over 200 common drinking water contaminants. Since the Big Berkey requires no electricity to operate, it is fully portable and can be used anywhere, including camping trips to remote locations and emergency situations. The Big Berkey water filter review below outlines why this is the most popular system in the Berkey range.
Big Berkey Water Filter Review - The Basics
Like all systems in the Berkey range of water filters, the Big Berkey is simple to use. You don't need to plug it into an electrical socket, it requires no plumbing, and you don't need to connect it to a faucet. Just fill the upper chamber with water from any source and let gravity draw the water through the purification elements to provide you with clean, safe water on tap.
The Big Berkey can be used anywhere in your home, including outside or in the field if you like to travel. Users generally tend to place their Big Berkey countertop filter on the kitchen counter to provide a convenient source of drinking water to all members of the household. However, you need to bear in mind that the Big Berkey has a diameter of 8.5 inches and measures 19.25 inches in height, so you will need to find a free spot on your kitchen counter where overhanging cabinets can accommodate it.
Key Features of the Big Berkey Water filter
Berkey offers a wide range of water filters varying in size from the ultra-portable compact Travel Berkey to the lightweight Berkey Light, to the mammoth Crown Berkey. The Big Berkey water filter -- which has a capacity of 2.25 gallons and caters for 2-4 people -- fits somewhere in between and is the most popular system in the Berkey range due to its affordability and versatility. Some of the key features of the Big Berkey are highlighted below.
Durable stainless steel construction
The Big Berkey is made from polished stainless steel, which will withstand knocks and bumps when transporting it for use on your travels. The stainless steel unit is not only durable, but it is also easy to clean and looks rather classy on a kitchen counter.
Fitted with 2x Black Berkey purification elements standard
The Big Berkey comes fitted with two Black Berkey purification elements in the upper chamber, which together will filter approximately 6000 gallons of water before they will need to be replaced. The number of Black Berkey filter elements in the upper chamber can be increased to a total of four, which will double the filtration speed as well as the lifespan of the filters, increasing the total volume of water filtered to 12,000 gallons per set of four filter elements. The Black Berkey purification elements have been tested by state and EPA accredited laboratories to exceed EPA 7 ANSI/NSF Std. 53 protocol for the removal of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, as well as inorganic minerals; heavy metals, including lead; chlorine and trihalomethanes.
Lab test results for the Black Berkey purification elements can be found here
Easy to Install and operate
The Big Berkey is super easy to set up. The system comes with a comprehensive user manual that provides clear instructions on the assembly process that will help you setup your Berkey unit through the in a breeze, as well as provide troubleshooting tips and information on how to check that your filters are working properly. It also provides maintenance tips to help you keep your system functioning efficiently, and explains how to replace the filter elements when they are no longer functioning optimally.
Water Quality from a Berkey Water System
A Berkey system can be used to treat tap water from city water supplies, well water and source water water from lakes and streams, delivering purified water at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. It is capable of removing a wide range of common water contaminants including bacteria and viruses; heavy metals; chromium VI; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); common chemicals such as chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, and perfluorinated chemicals (PFOA); and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical drugs. A quick contaminants removal guide can be found here, or the full list of contaminants the Berkey is certified to remove can be found here. If you are wanting a water filter that can remove over 200 common drinking water contaminants without the hassle and expense of opting for a reverse osmosis system, the Berkey offers the perfect solution. And as it's portable, you can take it with you wherever you go.
Big Berkey Water Filter System Performance
Since gravity-fed filters such as the Big Berkey rely on gravity rather than water pressure to force water through the filters, they tend to filter water at a much slower rate. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because the slower filtration process means the water is in contact with the filter elements for longer, resulting in more contaminants being removed, meaning better filtration quality. A Big Berkey system can filter 3.5 gallons of water per hour when fitted with two Black Berkey filter elements. The filtration rate can be increased to 7 gallons per hour when four Black Berkey filter elements are fitted into the upper chamber of the system. While gravity-fed filters typically tend to be a bit on the slow side, the flow rate of the Berkey outcompetes that of many of its closest competitors.
Berkey Filter Elements Configuration
The Big Berkey can be fitted with 2-4 Black Berkey elements in the upper chamber. If you need to remove fluoride and arsenic, you can fit an optional 2-4 PF-2 arsenic and fluoride filters in the lower chamber. Both the Black Berkey and PF-2 filters are sold in sets of 2. As the PF-2 arsenic and fluoride filter cartridges are designed to be used in conjunction with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, the number of PF-2's must match the number of Black Berkeys inserted into the upper chamber. For example, if 4 Black Berkeys (2 sets of 2) are fitted, 4 PF-2's (2 sets of 2), are required. It's also important to note that inserting fluoride filters into the lower chamber will reduce the storage capacity by approximately half a gallon per set of 2.
Black Berkey Filter Elements
The Black Berkey purification elements live up to their name. Unlike most other gravity-fed water filtration systems, they do not simply filter water, they purify it, reducing viruses to >99.999%. Find out more about the difference between a water purifier and a water filter here. As mentioned earlier, the Black Berkey purification elements will each filter 3,000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced. So with a set of two Black Berkeys fitted, the filter lifespan will be 6,000 gallons, which will be increased to 12,000 gallons when four Black Berkey filter elements are used. This long filter lifespan is far superior to many of Berkey's competitors, which makes them extremely economical in the long run.
PF2 Filters to Remove Fluoride and Arsenic
While the Black Berkey filters that form a vital part of the Berkey water purification system can reduce fluoride to 99.9%, if your drinking water contains exceptionally high levels of fluoride (>0.5mg/L) and/or arsenic, you may want to install a set of optional PF-2 fluoride and arsenic filters in the lower chamber as these filters, which will remove 99.99999% of fluoride, are specifically designed to target fluoride (sodium fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate and hydrofluorosilic acid), arsenic (arsenic V and pre-oxidized arsenic III), and other residual heavy metals. The lifespan of the PF-2 filters is significantly shorter than the Black Berkey filters — Berkey recommends that a set of two PF-2 filters are replaced every 1000 gallons, or after one year of use, whichever comes sooner.
Low Maintenance as Filters Last a Long Time
When setting up your system, the most time consuming task is priming the Berkey filters to remove trapped air as well as any dust and particles that may have accumulate during the manufacturing process that could compromise water taste. This is easy if you follow our step-by-step guide, and simply involves forcing water through the filter pores by placing the filters under running water from a tap. Once your Berkey system is up and running, it requires very little maintenance other than cleaning the stainless steel chambers once a month, and to clean the filter elements every six months. There are also step-by-step instructions to guide you through this cleaning routine to help you extend the life of your filters and ensure you get the most out of your system.
How Does a Berkey System Fare Against its Competitors
When it comes to home water filters, Berkey is a popular choice among consumers. And that's not surprising considering all that it has to offer. Firstly, it is considered a water purifier rather than a water filter. This distinction is important, as rather than simply reducing common water contaminants such as bacteria and chlorine, it's capabilities extend much further, not only reducing a wider range of contaminants, but to a much greater degree.
While the initial outlay may be more than that of some of its rivals, since the Black Berkey water filters last such a long time before needing to be replaced, you will find that the running costs tend to be far cheaper than that of its competitors and in the longterm it will cost you far less per gallon of water delivered.
A more in-depth review comparing the Berkey and its competitors, outlining the pros and cons of each, can be found at the links below:
- Berkey Water Filters vs Reverse Osmosis
- Berkey Water Filters vs Distillation
- Berkey Water Filters vs Brita
- Berkey Water Filters vs Zerowater
- Berkey Water Filters vs Aquatru
- Berkey Water Filters vs Katadyn
- Berkey Water Filters vs Sawyer
- Berkey Water Filters vs Zen Water
- Berkey Water Filters vs Alexapure
- Berkey Water Filters vs Propur
Big Berkey vs Travel Berkey and Royal Berkey
All of the Berkey systems operate in the same manner and utilize the Black Berkey purification elements for contaminant removal to provide users with clean water that is safe to drink. So if you are needing something bigger or smaller than the Big Berkey filter, you may want to look at one of the other units in the Berkey range. The Big Berkey's closest siblings are its baby brother, the Travel Berkey (with a capacity of 1.5 gallons that caters for 1-3 people), and big sister, the Royal Berkey (with a capacity of 3.25 gallons that caters for 2-6 people comfortably). The Berkey Light (with a capacity of 2.75 gallons that caters for 2-6 people), which although does not have the same stainless steel design (it is made from BPA-free plastic), falls between the Big Berkey and Royal Berkey and offers an affordable lightweight alternative to the stainless steel offerings in the Berkey range. If you have a large family or need to cater for a large group of people and counter space is not limited, the Imperial (with a capacity of 4.5 gallons that caters for 6-10+ people) or Crown Berkey (with a capacity of 6 gallons that caters for 8-12+ people) may be a good option. The Crown Berkey is a great option for providing clean drinking water to large groups of people in emergency situations.
Is the Berkey a Good Choice for Me?
Berkey's are one of the most popular gravity-fed water purification systems on the market. Their filters are capable of removing over 200 common drinking water contaminants from municipal water or a more dubious water source to ensure water flowing from your tap is safe to drink. The Berkey is a good choice for you if:
- Your source water has high levels of lead
- Your drinking water comes from a river, lake or private well
- You want a filter with better filtration capabilities than cheaper countertop/pitcher systems offer
- You rely on bottled water as a source of safe drinking water
- You want a versatile water filter that you can take anywhere to ensure you will always have access to a safe supply of drinking water in a wide range of situations.
Being robust gravity-fed systems, they are completely portable and can provide you with a safe source of drinking water in various situations. What's not to like. The hardest part of your purchasing decision will most likely be deciding which model Berkey to choose.
