Berkey water filters are one of the best home water filters available on the market today. They are capable of removing over 200 common drinking water contaminants that pose a risk to our health. With several different models to choose from, selecting the right Berkey can be tricky. In this article, we compare the difference in storage capacity and filtration rates of each model.
Jump to:
- How Long Does a Berkey Take to Filter Water and How Many Gallons Can It Filter?
- What is the Flow Rate of the Travel Berkey Fitted with 2 x Black Berkey Filter Elements?
- How Long Do Big Berkey Water Filters Take to Filter Water?
- What is the Capacity and Flow Rate of the Berkey Light Water System?
- How Long Does the Royal Berkey Take to Filter Water?
- What is the Filtration Rate of the Imperial Berkey?
- What is the Capacity and Flow Rate of the Crown Berkey Filter?
- Why is My Berkey Filtering So Slow?
How Long Does a Berkey Take to Filter Water and How Many Gallons Can It Filter?
The time it takes to filter water when using a Berkey water filtration system will vary depending on the model and the number of Black Berkey filter elements you have installed in your system. A Berkey system fitted with two Black Berkey filter elements will typically filter about a gallon an hour on average. For each additional pair of Black Berkey filter elements fitted the filtering time will be halved.
Therefore, by installing more Black Berkey filter elements in your system you can increase the flow rate and shorten the filtration time. The table below provides an overview of the capacity, average filtration time, and flow rate of each Berkey® system.
How Long Does a Berkey Take to Filter Water?
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*Average filtering time is based on the rate of one gallon per hour per set of two Black Berkey Filters.
Now let's take a deep dive as we discuss the finer details below.
What is the Flow Rate of the Travel Berkey Fitted with 2 x Black Berkey Filter Elements?
The Travel Berkey, the smallest filter in the Berkey range, has a storage capacity of 1.5 gallons (5.7 liters). It can filter a maximum of 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) of water per hour when fitted with 2 Black Berkey Elements.
- small families of 1-3 people
- those that have limited counter space
- taking on outdoor activities and travels
How Long Do Big Berkey Water Filters Take to Filter Water?
The Big Berkey, the most popular system in the range, has a storage capacity of 2.1 gallons (8.5 liters). It comes standard with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, but this can be expanded to 4 to increase the flow rate and filtration time.
The Big Berkey can filter up to 3.5 gallons (13.25 liters) of water an hour when fitted with 2 Black Berkey Purification Elements, and up to 7 gallons (26.5 liters) per hour when fitted with 4 Black Berkey Purification Elements. The Big Berkey is suitable for 2-4 people, making it perfect for small to medium-sized families.
What is the Capacity and Flow Rate of the Berkey Light Water System?
The Berkey Light, made from non-BPA colpolyester plastic, is a lightweight alternative to the polished stainless steel systems in the Berkey range. The Berkey Light has a storage capacity of 2.75 gallons (10.4 liters). It comes standard with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, and like the Big Berkey, this can be expanded to 4 to increase the flow rate and filtration time.
The Berkey Light can purify up to 4 gallons (15.1 liters) of water per hour when fitted with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, and up to 7.5 gallons (28.4 liters) per hour when fitted with 4 Black Berkey filter elements. The lightweight design makes it ideal for providing a supply of safe drinking water while traveling or partaking in outdoor activities, or for use during unexpected emergencies.
How Long Does the Royal Berkey Take to Filter Water?
The Royal Berkey, the 4th largest system in the Berkey range, has a storage capacity of 3.25 gallons (12.3 liters). It comes fitted with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, but this can be expanded to 4 for faster filtration.
The Royal Berkey can purify up to 4 gallons (15.1 liters) of water per hour when fitted with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, and up to 8 gallons (30.2 liters) per hour when fitted with 4 Black Berkey filter elements. It is suitable for 2-6 people, making it a popular choice for small to medium size families.
What is the Filtration Rate of the Imperial Berkey?
The Imperial Berkey, the second largest system in the Berkey range, has a storage capacity of 4.5 gallons (17 liters). It comes fitted with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, which can be expanded to 4 or 6 for faster filtration.
The Imperial Berkey can purify up to 5.5 gallons (20.8 liters) of water per hour with 2 Black Berkey filter elements fitted. This can be increased to 11 gallons (41.6 liters) per hour when configured with 4 Black Berkey elements, and 21,5 gallons (81.4 liters) per hour when configured with 6 Black Berkey elements. Due to its larger size, the Imperial Berkey is suitable for 4-8 people and is a popular choice for larger families and small groups.
What is the Capacity and Flow Rate of the Crown Berkey Filter?
The Crown Berkey, the largest system in the Berkey range, has a storage capacity of 6 gallons (22.7 liters). It comes fitted with 2 Black Berkey filter elements, which can be expanded to 4, 6, or 8 for faster filtration.
The Crown Berkey can purify up to 6.5 gallons (24.6 liters) of water per hour with 2 Black Berkey filter elements fitted. This can be increased to 13 gallons (49.2 liters) per hour when configured with 4 Black Berkey elements, 19,5 gallons (73.8 liters) per hour when configured with 6 Black Berkey elements, and 26 gallons (98.4 liters) when configured with 8 Black Berkey filter elements. Due to its larger size, the Crown Berkey is suitable for 8-12+ people. The larger capacity of this system makes it the perfect choice for large families and groups, or for catering for large social gatherings.
Why is My Berkey Filtering So Slow?
If your Berkey system is filtering water much slower than the aforementioned averages, then something clearly isn't right. There are several reasons why your Berkey system may not be filtering optimally. Below are some tips to avoid common problems that affect filtering speed.
Filling the Upper Chamber to the Brim
When you fill the upper chamber of your Berkey, it's important to fill it to maximum capacity to ensure the filter elements are completely submerged. If you only half-fill your system, the bottom portion of the filter elements will be working overtime while the top portion won't be working at all. This is not only inefficient as it results in a lower flow rate and slower filtration, but it also causes the filter elements to wear out unevenly, reducing the lifespan of your filters. To prevent the bottom chamber from overflowing, ensure it is emptied before the upper chamber is refilled.
Priming Black Berkey Filters to Remove Air Pockets Blocking the Filters
If you find that your newly purchased Black Berkey filter elements are filtering very slowly, air pockets are likely to be the cause. You can rectify this by priming the filter elements to force out any air that may be trapped inside. Check our detailed instructions on how to prime your Black Berkey filter for more information.
Berkey Priming Accessories
Clean Filter Elements to Remove Sediment and Debris Clogging Filter Pores
Once your system has been in use for some time, sediment and debris can accumulate within the filters and block the micropores, slowing down the flow rate. To rectify this, remove the filter elements and wash each filter under running water, gently scrubbing with a Scotch Brite pad.
Ensure you reprime the cleaned filter elements before reinstalling them into your Berkey. Black Berkey filter elements can be cleaned and reused over and over again, if the flow rate starts slowing down, simply remove the elements, scrub them, and then reprime them before reinstalling them into your system.
Red Dye Test
If you have cleaned and primed your filter elements and they continue to perform sub-optimally, it may be time to replace the filters. You can check whether your filters need replacing by performing the red food coloring test.
Each Black Berkey filter element will typically filter 3000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced. A pair of Black Berkey filters will typically filter 6,000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced. However, if your water quality is particularly poor, this lifespan may be much shorter.
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As we can see, Berkey water filters come in a wide range of sizes, catering for large or small groups, and singles. When choosing a Berkey system, carefully consider the storage capacity and filtration rates of each system to ascertain whether it will adequately cater for the number of people it will be providing water to, while also taking into account what their water requirements are.
Berkey Filters Flow Rate and Capacity: FAQs
How Fast Does Berkey Filter Water?
A standard pair of Black Berkey filter elements can filter 1 gallon of water per hour. The flow rate is increased to 2 gallons per hour when four filter elements are fitted, 3 gallons per hour when six filter elements are fitted, and 4 gallons per hour when eight filter elements are fitted.
How Long Does it Take for Big Berkey to Filter Water?
The filtration time will depend on how much water is being filtered (this varies depending on the capacity of your system) and the number of Black Berkey filter elements being employed. The filtration time will be halved with each pair of Black Berkey filter elements added to the standard pair fitted in your system.
How Many Gallons Can a Berkey Filter?
As the capacity of each Berkey model varies, how many gallons your system can filter will ultimately be limited by its capacity. Each pair of Black Berkey filter elements fitted into your system is capable of filtering 1 gallon per hour.
Why is My Berkey Filtering So Slow?
If your system is filtering very slowly, the filter elements could be clogged with air, sediment, or debris. Remove and clean the filter elements, then re-prime the filters before reinstalling them into your Berkey system.
Why is My Berkey Filtering So Fast?
If your Berkey is filtering abnormally fast, it could be that the nuts holding the filter elements in place are loose, allowing water to leak through into the bottom chamber, If this is the case, the water is bypassing the filter elements and is not being filtered properly. Tighten the nuts to prevent water leaking from the upper chamber to the bottom chamber.
