Big Berkey w/ 2 Black Berkey
by Berkey Water Filters
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Our Price: $258.00
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Berkey Water FiltersBrand: Berkey
Model: bk4x2
Product features:
- 2.25 Gallon holding Volume
- Height = 19.25" ; Diameter = 8.5"
- Purifies 3.5 Gallons / Hour
- High Grade 304 Stainless Steel
- 2 Black Berkeys good for 6000 Gallons
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Big Berkey w/ 2 Black Berkey
Customer Review: Looks Can Be Deceiving
Summary: 3 Stars
Not to be a buzz kill, but I spend DAYS researching these berkey filters. I even tracked down a gentleman who claimed to be one of the heads of the Toxicology Department, Dr. Portier, at LSU. He said that LSU did infact do ONE water sample on the Black Berkey over 8 YEARS ago and that neither he or LSU endorses their product. He also said that while the test did take place, that not Himself or LSU authorized a document to be placed on the internet. He said the reason that he was so quick to call me back is because he has had nearly 20 different inquires in the past 8 years asking about this "so called" lab analysis document that Berkey puts on their website. He also went on to say, that SOMEONE had to of manufactured the "LSU document" because he did not provide ANYONE with that document. So, even if LSU did do a sample, and if everything went alright, then why did New Millennium Concepts have to manufacture a LSU lab analysis report?Then I got to thinking, if New Millennium Concept (the company the main distributor for Black Berkey filters) is confident in their product, then
Why don't they have any Quality Assurance procedures put into place?
Why don't they have their filters annually tested?
Why don't they get an NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification.
Why don't they have a Micron Rating for their filter...Nominal or Absolute?
Lets be fair here, if you are skeptical about Truesdale lab not getting their filters checked out in 15 years.... is there really a difference in the 10 Years that Berkey Filters have waited?
Bottom line is that the Berkey filters make some pretty awesome claims, but do very little to PROVE this to their consumers. As for Spectrum labs and the University of Arizona... I have yet to hear back from them.
This review is not meant to be negative in any way, it is solely to spread information and get to the bottom of this. When I called New Millennium Concepts, Valerie answered the phone was was extremely pleasant with me. She spent 30 minutes explaining to me how long they have been in business and that the filters were made in the USA and that they were quality and have had ZERO issues with them. Again, that is all fine and well, but where is the proof? You can't simply say that no one has gotten sick so that is why we know our filters work... I mean I have been drinking tap water for 30 years now and I am not SICK. That being said, everyone knows how BAD tap water is for you over a cumulative time!
From what I can tell for sure, the best part about the filter is that the water collects in a 304 polished stainless steel basin which is far superior to plastic! For this reason alone this filter might be worth buying?
If you want more info on how to contact New Millennium Concepts, or University of Arizona, or LSU toxicology department....feel free to contact me at [...]. If we put enough pressure on Berkey, they may spend the extra money to bring peace of mind to its consumers, that is if they past the lab tests?!?
***UPDATE*** 3/2/2011
After being contacted by some concerned people regarding my review on the Berkey Filter Elements I have decided to include the following statements. More will be to follow as I get the information. The following information was sent to me via T.ross. I am including T. ross entire reply. Everything in lower case is from T. ross post and everyting in BOLD is my response to the post. I am not sure if T.Ross contacted the manufacturer or some distributor, but it appears that T. ross, like myself, are still are not getting straight forward answers.
THE ALL CAPS TEXT FORM HERE ON IS MY RESPONSE TO T. ross
As a Berkey owner I was concerned when I read this so I forwarded it to them asking for an explanation and this is the response. Also I have found similar reviews made towards other water filters so I am seeing a trend here.
There are several versions of this posting/e-mail of which we are aware and all contain a number of erroneous statements. For example:
@ T ROSS FROM THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID
I ALSO AM A PROUD BERKEY OWNER. EMAIL ME AT [...] (PUT BERKEY WATER FILTER IN SUBJECT LINE) AND I WILL SEND YOU A COPY OF MY INVOICE. I BOUGHT IT FROM EBAY. I STILL MAINTAIN THAT BERKEY FILTERS ARE MORE THAN LIKELY TO SUFFICE DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. I DO NOT HOWEVER BELIEVE THEM TO BE SUPERIOR FOR EVERYDAY DRINKING WATER. LIKE I HAVE STATED BEFORE, I AM NOT TRYING TO BASH THE BERKEY FILTERS. I AM MERELY TRYING TO GET THE FACTS TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT WATER IS TO THE BODY AND THEREFORE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH REGARDING THIS MATTER TO INCLUDE WATER FILTRATION METHODS. HERE IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY REGARDING TO WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN DOWN BELOW. MY RESONSES WILL BE IN ALL CAPS (DON'T WORRY THOUGH, I AM NOT YELLING.)
cThe sales figures alluded to in one version are significantly off the mark.
THE SALES INFORMATION I OBTAINED WAS STRAIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF VALERIE AT NEW MILLENIUM CONCEPTS, THE MANUFACTUER OF BERKEY FILTER ELEMENTS. SHE SAID THEY SOLD 350,000 DOLLARS OF PRODUCT AND USED THIS FACT TO JUSTIFY THAT THEIR COMPANY WAS LEGITIMATE AND THAT THE COULD NOT SELL THAT MUCH PRODUCT IF THE FILTERS DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY CLAIMED. I GUESS BY THIS SAME REASONING THAT MEANS BERNEY MADOFF WAS COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE, BECAUSE HOW COULD HE MAKE THAT MUCH MONEY IF HE WASN'T LEGITIMATE?!?
o The posting erroneously asserts that LSU did their testing over ten years ago.
MY APOLOGY ON THIS ONE. I WAS IN FACT INCORRECT WHEN I SAID TEN YERARS. ACTUALLY, IT HAS ONLY BEEN EIGHT YEARS. I HAVE SINCE WENT BACK AND CORRECTED THAT ERROR IN MY ORIGINAL POST. I ACTUALLY GOT THIS CONFUSED WITH THE SPECTRUM LABS REPORT THAT TOOK PLACE OVER 10 YEARS AGO. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A WEAK ARGUMENT. IF SOMEONE WERE TO BE CONVICTED OF STEALING A CANDY BAR RIGHT BEFORE THEY HELD UP THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT FOR ALL THE MONEY IN THE CASH REGISTER, ONLY TO FIND OUT IN COURT THAT THE ROBBER HAD PURCHASED THE CANDY BAR BEFORE HE HELD UP THE ATTENDANT AT GUN POINT.....DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE DEFENSE WOULD BASE THEIR WHOLE CASE ON THAT FACT THAT THEIR CLIENT DID IN FACT PAY FOR THE CANDY BAR?
o The posting accuses that LSU does not endorse Berkey® products. Testing labs never endorse any product they test. They merely test products and communicate the results.
O.K., WHAT'S YOUR POINT? I WAS MERELY STATING WHAT DR. PORTIER WAS TELLING ME REGARDING THE TESTING OF THE BLACK BERKEY ELEMENTS. HE JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT WHILE THEY DID PREFORM "ONLY ONE" NEARLY 8 YEARS AGO, THAT NEITHER HE NOR THE UNIVERSITY ENDORSED THE FILTER.
o The posting erroneously asserts that NMCL has the lab reports posted on its website and that LSU did not authorize such. NMCL does not post lab results on any of its websites.
WOW, SERIOUSLY, TALK ABOUT SPLITING HAIRS. YOU ARE RIGHT, BERKEY DOES IN FACT HIDE THEIR LABS RESULTS FROM CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT THEIR WEBSITE. MY GUESS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE GROSSLY OUTDATED! THAT BEING SAID, AFTER I SPOKE WITH VALARIE OVER THE PHONE, SHE EMAILED ME THE LAB RESULTS. AS FAR AS LSU IS CONCERNED, AFTER LOOKING AT THE LAB REPORT THAT VALARIE EMAILED TO ME, DR. PORTIER (THE HEAD OF THE TOXICOLOGY DEPARTMENT) SAID THAT THIS PARTICUALR DOCUMENT WAS `MANUFACTURED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN LSU"
o Most of the questions raised by the author are answered in the FAQ's section on our website, which apparently were not read by the author during their alleged multiple days of researching Berkey® filters.
I DID READ THE ENTIRE FAQ SECTION. THE ANSWERS ARE VAUGE AND ENTIRELY BIASED SINCE THEY ARE COMPOSED BY THE MANUFACTURER (JUST LIKE THE LSU LAB DOCUMENT WAS)
o The author states that they have been drinking tap water for 30 years and have not gotten sick as a result, which makes one wonder what then was their motivation for spending "days" researching Berkey® filters?
SERIOUSLY?!? MY MOTIVATION WAS TO GET A FILTER THAT WOULD REMOVED ALL THE CRAP THAT MY KIDNEYS, LIVER, AND ACIDIC NATURE OF MY STOMACH HAVE BEEN REMOVING FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. I FIGURED I WOULD GIVE THEM A BREAK. ALSO, SINCE THE WATER COMING FROM THE CITY IS RELATIVELY TREATED, IT ISN'T ANY SURPRISE THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SUDDEN ONSET OF SICKNESS. IT IS A CUMULATIVE EFFECT. ALSO, I FIGURED THAT THIS FILTER WOULD COME IN HANDY DURING AN EMERGENCY, WHICH I STILL FEEL TO BE AN ACCURATE STATEMENT. HOWEVER, THIS FILTER HAS NOT PROVEN TO BE, "THE BEST FILTER ON THE MARKET" ACCORING TO JACK SPIRKO FROM THE SURVIVAL PODCAST.
o Moreover, the author asks "Where's the proof?" and implies that Berkey® elements are not regularly tested. This again is an erroneous assertion. In fact Analytical Services tested the Berkey® elements as recently as 2010. The current testing again showed that Black Berkey® elements meet purification standards with respect to the removal of pathogenic bacteria; additionally they showed that Black Berkey® elements are more powerful than previously advertised because they also remove viruses, a much smaller and harder to remove organism, for which LSU did no testing.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO A VERY GOOD POINT. EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF LSU AND UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, I WAS NOT HOWEVER ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF SPECTRUM LABS, THE THIRD INDEPENDENT LAB TO TEST THE BERKEY FITLERS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DISSAPOINTING BECAUSE IT WAS SPECTRUM LABS THAT DID THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TEST OF THE FILTERS. SO, TECHNICALLY, EVEN THOUGH LSU AND ARIZONA WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM OUTDATED TEST PERFORMED NEARLY A DECADE AGO, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE WHO COULD PROVE THAT BERKEY FILTERS CAN REMOVE BACTERIA AND VIRUSES. THIS IS SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. AS FAR AS "ANALYTICAL SERVICES", NOT VALERIE OR ANYONE OF THE BERKEY DISTRIBUTORS MENTIONED THIS TO ME. EVEN AFTER I PRESSED VALERIE ON WHY NEW MILLENIUM CONCEPTS HAD NO RECENT TESTING, SHE NEVER BROUGHT THIS UP. YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER PRESSURING EVERYONE SO MUCH ON THIS FACT THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT UP. EITHER IT IS A FALSE STATEMENT OR THE TEST DOESN'T REALLY PROVE ANYTHING. I WILL HAVE TO CHECK INTO THIS.
Given that the recent 2010 testing conducted by Analytical Services, Inc. revealed that Black Berkey® elements are much more powerful than the LSU test results revealed (See Attached), this renders the author's assertions regarding the LSU testing moot.
On a final note, the water filter industry is highly competitive and as such, it has been our experience that when these types of erroneous postings occur, the trail eventually leads back to one of our competitors. A number of the comments are inconsistent with what would be typical from a retail customer. Moreover, while anyone can post anything they wish to post on the Internet; doing so does not make erroneous statements accurate. We will conduct an investigation into this posting and will give an update should we find any further comments to be necessary.
PLEASE DO INVESTIGATE. MY NAME IS WILLIAM AND MY EMAIL IS [...] I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AND WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE WHO HAS DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR DRINKING WATER. WITH ALL THE FLUORIDE, BROMIDE, CHLORIDE, BACTERIA, AND VIRUSES THAT WE INGEST ON A DAILY BASIS, IT IS NO WONDER WHY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SUFFER FROM EITHER INSOMNIA, HEAD ACHES, ATTENTION DEFICIET DISORDER, AUTISM, GI PROBLEMS, ECT. LIKE I SAID, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET DIARRHEA AND DIE FROM DRINKING WATER, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE NOT SLOWLY GETTING SICK! BERKEY FILTERS WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY PREVENT GETTING DEATHLY ILL DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHICH IS WHY I WILL KEEP MINE. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO USING THE STAINLESS STEEL POLISHED 403 HOUSING THAT BERKEY PROVIDES (WHICH BY THE WAY IS EXTREMELY NICE) AND TRYING TO INCORPORATE SOME OTHER GRAVITY FED FILTER ELEMENTS INSIDE OF IT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHICH ONES OVER THE INTERNET IN FEAR OF BELING LABELED A COMPETITOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHICH ONES FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME WITH BERKEY WATER FILTER IN SUBJECT LINE.
AGAIN, HERE ARE SOME "FACTS" TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A BERKEY
1) THEY ARE NOT NSF CERTIFIED
2) THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY "RECENT" LAB TESTS ON THEIR FITLERS
3) THEY DO NOT PROVIDE A MICRON RATING FOR THEIR ELEMENTS. (YOU CAN READ WHY THEY CHOOSE NOT TO WITHIN THEIR FAQ SECTION ON THEIR WEBSITE, BUT ANYONE WHO KNOWS A GOOD DEAL ABOUT WATER FILTRATION WILL SEE RIGHT THROUGH THIS REASONING)
4) SPECTRUM LABS APPARENTLY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS SO THERE IS NO WAY TO VERIFY THEY DID TESTING FOR BERKEY
5) DR. PORTIER, THE HEAD OF LSU TOXICOLOGY DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT SOMEONE HAS MANUFACTURED THE LAB REPORT FROM LSU THAT IS CIRCULATING AROUND THE INTERNET. THIS IS ALSO THE SAME ONE THAT WAS EMAILED TO ME FROM VALARIE AT NEW MILLENIUM CONCEPTS (BERKEY FILTER ELEMENT MANUFACTURER)
6) I USED A POOL TEST KIT TO VERIFY THAT THE FILTERS REMOVE CHLORINE AND SAW THAT THEY DID. HOWEVER, AFTER POURING REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER THROUGHT THE BERKEY FILTERS AND MEASURING THE pH BEFORE AND AFTER IT WENT THROGH THE FITLER ELEMENTS, I SAW THAT THEY pH HAD INCREASED AFTER IT WENT THROUGH THE FILTER. SINCE pH IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF PARTICLES/MINERALS CONTAINED WITHIN WATER, I REALIZED THAT THE BLACK BERKEY ELEMENTS ARE "ADDING" SOMETHING TO THE WATER. WHAT THAT IS, I AM NOT SURE, BUT I DEFINITELY DON'T LIKE THAT FACT.
7) THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT THESE FILTER ELEMENTS CAN BE USED FOR AN INDEFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME SO LONG AS THE FILTER'S GALLON RATING HAS NOT BEEN REACHED. WHILE I CANNOT PROVE THIS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THESE ELEMENTS ARE NOT MADE OF CERAMIC AND THAT THEY ARE MADE OF SOME FORM OF ACTIVATED CARBON. CARBON BECMOES A BREEDING GROUND FOR BACTERIA AND VIRUSES IN WET ENVIORNMENTS AFTER AROUND 5-6 MONTHS. FOR THIS REASON ALONE, ALL OTHER CARBON BASED FILTER ELEMENTS RECOMMEND THAT YOU SWITCH OUT YOUR FILTERS AFTER 6 MONTHS EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT REACHED THAT FILTERS RATED GALLON CAPACITY. THE FACT THE VALARIE FROM NEW MILLENIUM CONCEPTS SAID THAT YOU CAN KEEP THE FITLER FOREVER SO LONG AS YOU DRY IT OUT WHEN NOT USING IT, SOUNDS A BIT FISHY TO ME.
8) THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT IS THAT WHILE ALL THE ABOVE FACTS ARE TRUE, THE MANUFACTURER AND ALL THE DISTRIBUTORS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OVER THE PHONE AND VIA EMAIL REFUSE TO Acknowledge THEM AS TRUTH. THIS WORRIES ME BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TYRING TO HIDE SOMETHING. INSTEAD, THEY JUST PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH FACTS THEY WANT TO ATTACK AND REFUSE TO GIVE LOGICAL EXPLANATIONS REGARDING THE OTHERS STATEMENTS. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE PUREEST WATER YOU CAN GET, TRY DISTILLING YOUR WATER(I KNOW, I KNOW, I AM OBSESSED WITH WATER). BUT IF YOU ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO PURIFY WATER IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES THAT DON'T HAVE FILTRATION METHODS, THEN THE BERKEY OR SOME OTHER GRAVITY FED SYSTEM WILL WORK FOR YOU.
9) THE FLUORIDE ELEMENTS THAT BERKEY SELLS ARE FROM A THIRD PARTY MANUFACTURER AND HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN TO REMOVE ANY SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF FLUORIDE. DISTILLING IS THE ONLY FOR SURE METHOD TO REMOVE FLUORIDE FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER.
BOTTOM LINE, THESE FILTERS ARE PROBABLY GOOD FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ONLY. I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT THEY WILL REMOVE ANYTHING THAT THE CITY WATER HASN'T ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF, WHICH THE EXCEPTION OF CHLORINE.
****UPDATE***** MARCH 13TH 2011
I WAS ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH DR. GERBA FROM UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA VIA EMAIL. HE CONFIRMED THAT THEY DID ONE TEST AS WELL WHICH CONFIRMED THE FOLLOWING "Three Black Berkey Filter Formulation Water Purification Units were evaluated for their ability to remove Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) oocysts, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The average oocysts removal by both units tested exceeded >99.99999"
SO, THAT MAKES 2 ACCOUNTED FOR LAB ANALYSIS REPORTS(LSU & UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA) WITH ONLY ONE OUTSTANDING (SPECTRUM LABS). KNOWING THIS MAKES ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT OWNING A BERKEY....I SUPPOSE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE LAB ANALYSIS WAS DONE BY SPECTRUM LABS. I SAY THIS IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE AFTER SPEAKING WITH A BERKEY DISTRIBUTOR VIA EMAIL, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE PARTICULAR SPECTRUM LAB THAT DID THE WATER ANALYSIS ON THEIR FILTERS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I DO NOT HOLD THIS AGAINST NEW MILLENNIUM CONCEPTS OR THEIR FILTERS, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN SO I UNDERSTAND. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS PARTICULAR SPECTRUM LABS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS THEIR WATER ANALYSIS CANNOT BE SUBSTANTIATED. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEIRS WAS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE OF THE THREE.
AS FAR AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, I AM STILL RECOMMENDING THE BERKEY FILTER FOR LAST DITCH EFFORTS IN AN EMERGENCY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONVENIENCE OF THEIR "GRAVITY FED" SYSTEM COMES IN HANDY WHEN THE ELECTRICITY GOES OUT, NOT TO MENTION THEIR HIGH QUALITY 403 STAINLESS STEEL OUTER HOUSING; BUT I STILL NEED TO SEE MORE RECENT AND UP TO DATE TESTING ALONG WITH SOME QUALITY ASSURANCE ON THEIR END TO ENSURE THAT EACH FILTER MEETS THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT THEY CLAIM. COME ON PEOPLE, THIS IS JUST COMMON SENSE STUFF HERE. I AM NOT PENALIZING BERKEY FILTERS FOR CHOOSING NOT TO PURCHASE THE NSF CERTIFICATION. HOWEVER, SINCE THEY CHOOSE NOT TO SEEK THE NSF ENDORSEMENT, THEN IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO PROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THEIR PRODUCT.
AS FOR ME, I AM STILL USING A HIGH QUALITY, STAINLESS STEEL, MADE IN AMERICA, WATER DISTILLER FOR MY EVERYDAY WATER DRINKING(DON'T WORRY, I ADD UNREFINED SEA SALT TO REINTRODUCE MINERALS). WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT, I HAVE PLAN B, WHEN I AM UNABLE TO IMPLEMENT PLAN B I WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TURN TO MY BIG BERKEY WITH OPEN ARMS! I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO INCLUDE THE OTHER FILTERS I USE SINCE I FEEL IT MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM THIS REVIEW. HOWEVER, IF YOU MUST KNOW, EMAIL ME AT [...] WITH BERKEY WATER FILTER IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND I WILL GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION IF YOU SO DESIRE. GOOD LUCK AND REMEMBER THIS....IF YOU ARE COMPLAINING NOW ABOUT PAYING $4 FOR A GALLON OF GAS, WAIT UNTIL THEY PRIVATIZE OUR DRINKING WATER AND YOU ARE PAYING $4 FOR A GALLON OF WATER!!!!
*****UPDATE***** MARCH 22 2011
Here is information regarding possible suitable replacement filters that can be used in lieu of the Black Berkey elements. Just secure them the same way you would the Black Berkey Elements directly inside the Stainless Steel housing. If you are looking for information regarding other filter systems that are NOT of the Gravity type, then email me again asking for that information with "Other Filter Types" in the subject line. I have decided not to include that information with this email, as it is rather extensive and I do not wish to overwhelm anyone. Please excuse the generic response, but I have a TON of people requesting this information and it just became too time consuming to personalize each and every email. Good luck and please report back with any findings of your own. We are all in this together. Also, if you find anything that I have said to be in error, please let me know so that I do not spread bad information. Thanks.
Here is information regarding my most recent and hopeful prospect to replace the Black Berkey Elements inside of the 403 Stainless Steel housing of my Big Berkey. It appears that this company makes Gravity Filter Elements that will take the place of the Black Berkey Elements. The name of the company is Doulton USA and this is their website:[...]
Here are some FACTS that I have been able to determine thus far from reading their website. I am currently awaiting an email response to a list of unanswered questions that I still have and will update that information once I have it secured. I encourage you to read through their entire website, as there is a ton of good information to read about. I understand that since they put out the information that it stands to be bias; however, I would also encourage you to check that information via other sources on the Internet. Good luck and please report back with anything that YOU find. Thanks.
1) They are NSF certified (I know, I know, but it just makes me feel good knowing they have it!)
2) They DO provide an "absolute micron rating" of 0.9 microns with a 99.9999 % removal as well as a "nominal micron rating" of 0.2 microns with a 98% removal
3) They offer an in depth report of how their filters are constructed to include materials used and how it works, as opposed to the Berkey's explanation of the "Berkey Secret" which states, "modern state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality materials".
4) They have ALL NINE OF their independent lab analysis reports (on their website for viewing (unlike Berkey where you have to search and pry) and even though some of them are old just like Berkey's, they provide all the addresses and contact information! Now that is disclosure my friend.
5) They have been making filters since the 1800s and are used by relief efforts like Red Cross and Unicef, just as the Berkey's are used.
6) They also offer Fluoride and Arsenic removal filters
Like I said, my research is premature, but I am happy thus far. Again, I am not knocking the Berkey Filters. I just feel that with all the OTHER options out there, some of which appear to be superior quality and with greater disclosure of their technologies; then what reason is there to go with the Berkey? I hesitate to say that Berkey's are questionable at best, but alas I am at a loss for words.
*****UPDATE***** March 23, 2011
So after further research I have been able to determine that while [...] sells the following Ceramic Gravity Filters: 1)*Sterasyl(tm) ,*2)Super Sterasyl(tm), and 3)*ATC Super Sterasyl(tm) , that they are merely a vendor. The MANUFACTURER of these filter is Fairey Industrial Ceramics LTD (I will refer to them as Fairey from here on out) [...]
I highly recommend that you go to the Fairey website to read about their filter information in addition to the Doulton website, as I find the Fairey website easier to navigate through. I have submitted a list of questions to Fairey and will post their responses. From what I can tell thus far this is a company based out of the UK and they have their own stringent standards to adhere by as opposed to the NSF. A quote from their website reads, "All Doulton® and British Berkefeld® ceramic filter elements are manufactured under International Standards Organisation (ISO) conditions. They have the highly consistent and controlled pore structure necessary to provide genuine sub micron filtration." Of course since Fairey wishes to do business in the United States, they have dedicated one of their "Pressure Filters" called the ULTRACARB(tm) NSF to be Certified by the NSF (click on link and scroll down until you see this filter [...]
One thing to keep in mind, is that they use the same ceramic filter housing for all their filters. The only difference is that some have special internal cores inside the ceramic that remove odor, bad taste, lead, ect. Needless to say, just because they didn't pay thousands of dollars to certify each individual filter model (aka 1)Sterasyl(tm) ,*2)Super Sterasyl(tm), and 3)*ATC Super Sterasyl) in addition to the Ultracarb, they all are TESTED to the STANDARDS of the NSF. Of course this isn't the same as holding the actual certification, but I think you get the point.
In conclusion, this company seems to be Extremely Legit. They offer a wide range of filters that can be used for gravity systems, whole house systems, and under the counter systems. I will see if I can put their filters into my Aquasana filter housing located under my sink. I will write back with more info.
Just in case you get confused at to who owns the rights to Doulton and British Berkfield and what the difference between the two are, click on these two links and read:
[...]
[...]
By the way, I highly recommend you read through both websites, especially the Fairey Ltd one, so that you may be fully informed about these filters. I spent nearly two hours reading through them. Good info!
Also, check out this website to be able to mix and match whatever filters and stainless steel housings you want. Even though it is not Nearly as descriptive as the doultonusa website or the fairey Ltd website, it appears to offer the best prices I found thus far: [...]
******UPDATE***** MARCH 28th 2011
After contacting Fairey Industrial Ceramics Ltd (the manufacturer of Doulton/Berkefeld candle filters) via email, I received Satisfactory Answers to ALL my questions. Below you will see my correspondence with Fairey Ltd: (Keep in mind that this company is based out of the UK and only has a small portion of their market here in North America. That being said, NSF is a United States Certification, while the ISO is a UK certification)
Dear William
Unfortunately it is not economically viable for us to attain NSF certification for all of our products due to the high costs involved. As a result we have had to prioritise which products to put forward for NSF certification and since the North American market is mainly a pressure filter market those are the products which have been NSF certified. However the Sterasyl filter candle is listed under NSF Standard 42 as conforming to NSF material requirements for component safety. One point to also bear in mind is that the porous ceramic used in all grades of our filter candles is the same so the bacteria, cyst, turbidity and sediment removal performance of all candles is the same - it's just that some of them have been put through NSF certification
NSF certification is only valid for 5 years (their rule!) so products have to be re-submitted to NSF for retesting every 5 years and the full testing and certification fee is charged every time by NSF. So you can see why this is a costly exercise having to pay for re-testing and certification every 5 years for each of your NSF certified products.
With regards to our ISO 9001:2008 quality management certification this certifies that our manufacturing facility operates under a rigorous quality management system with extensive quality management controls and tests in place at various stages of production. This is to ensure that all our products are manufactured in a consistent and high quality manner to ensure that all production batches have the same characteristics end hence product performance. The quality management system is independently audited on an annual basis by an external, independent third party organisation.
I hope this now gives you the confidence to invest in a Doulton ceramic drinking water filter.
If you have any final questions then please feel free to call me on the number below: I shall be in the office all of today.
Best regards
Tim
Tim Evans'Business Development Executive
Tel: [...]'Fax: [...]'E-mail: [...] 'Web: [...]
Fairey Industrial Ceramics Limited'Lymedale Cross'Lower Milehouse Lane'Newcastle-under-Lyme'ST5 9BT'UNITED KINGDOM
The message in this transmission is sent in confidence for the attention of the addressee only and should not be disclosed to any other party. Unauthorised recipients are requested to preserve this confidentiality. Please advise the sender if the addressee is not resident at the receiving end. Company registered in England No. 1232580. VAT Number GB 420 9781 49. Registered Office: Albion Works, Uttoxeter Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, ST3 1PH, UK.
From: William Coyle [mailto:[...]] 'Sent: 28 March 2011 19:40'To: Tim Evans'Subject: Re: Questions About Gravity Filters
Dear Tim,
Why has Fairley Ltd decided not to attain NSF certifications for their Sterasyl candles (i.e. gravity filters)? Also, when you say." our test data is automatically renewed based on 5 year programs. Other information is updated as we see fit and all of it is relevant due to comprehensive quality control procedures and the care we take with our manufacturing (we have ISO 9001:2008 accreditation)"; do you mean that your filters have had Recent (within 5 years) Independent Lab testing preformed on them?
Respectfully
William'Sent from my iPhone 4
'On Mar 28, 2011, at 10:36 AM, Tim Evans <[...]> wrote:
Dear Mr Coyle
Thank you for your comments below and we should like to respond to your comments.
The extent of independent testing carried out by our company is based on adequacy to demonstrate our filter performance claims, and test organizations and protocols are selected to be what we consider the most relevant to the products and markets in which our products are sold.
We can assure you that NSF certification is hard won, cannot be "bought", is subject to annual unannounced audits and a 5 year rolling test program . NSF certification is for specific systems and we have not put any of our gravity systems through the certification system. You can check the validity of our NSF certification by checking our listing on the NSF website at [...] - Enter Doulton as a keyword and select Drinking Water/Water Filters from the drop down product list. You will understand that we cannot give out contact details for other organizations.
As you have noted, the information on our website is comprehensive. Some of our test data is automatically renewed based on 5 year programs. Other information is updated as we see fit and all of it is relevant due to comprehensive quality control procedures and the care we take with our manufacturing (we have ISO 9001:2008 accreditation).
We hope that the above answers some of your questions and helps to convince you that our products will satisfy your considered requirements.
Best regards
Tim Evans'Business Development Executive
Tel: [...]'Fax: [...]'E-mail: [...]'Web: [...]
Fairey Industrial Ceramics Limited'Lymedale Cross'Lower Milehouse Lane'Newcastle-under-Lyme'ST5 9BT'UNITED KINGDOM
The message in this transmission is sent in confidence for the attention of the addressee only and should not be disclosed to any other party. Unauthorised recipients are requested to preserve this confidentiality. Please advise the sender if the addressee is not resident at the receiving end. Company registered in England No. 1232580. VAT Number GB 420 9781 49. Registered Office: Albion Works, Uttoxeter Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, ST3 1PH, UK.
Description of Big Berkey w/ 2 Black Berkey
The versatile Big Berkey system is the ideal system for use at home with small or medium sized families, travel, outdoor activities or during unexpected emergencies. This powerful system purifies both treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. Perfect for everyday use, outdoor activities and a must in hostile environments where electricity, water pressure or treated water may not be available. The Big Berkey system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222 and trihalomethanes. It also reduces nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury. This system is so powerful it can remove food coloring from water without removing the beneficial minerals your body needs. Virtually no other system can duplicate this performance. Constructed of highly polished 304 stainless steel, the system comes complete with two purification elements and utilizes the latest technological advances. This system has a storage capacity of about 2.25 gallons (8.5 liters) and when in use it stands 19.25" in height with a diameter of 8.5". The upper chamber nests within the lower chamber for transport and stands only 13" in height. Configured with two Black Berkey purification elements the system will purify up to 3 1/2 Gallons (13.3 liters) per hour.Undersink & Countertop Filtration
Kitchen and Housewares
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