How the Berkey® water filter operates

Water Purification, the Berkey® Secret

Used worldwide, the manufacturing quality and efficiency of Berkey® water purifiers are well-proven.
They eliminate over 200 contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, pesticides, etc. See details here.
Discover how they operate, and you will see why they are unique!

Convenience

Berkey® water purifiers assemble in minutes without tools, electricity or a need to connect to the water supply. Maintenance is extremely simple and infrequent.

Economical

It's the most economical water purification system you can own, our cost comparison proves it! Its unique design allows easy removal and cleaning of the purification elements. A pair of Black Berkey® filters can purify 22750 liters of water before needing replacement! This represents over 10 years of water consumption based on a daily consumption of 1.5 liters of water for a family of four.

Flexible

The Berkey® purification system is so convenient and easy to use that you can take it anywhere: on vacation, for outdoor activities, camping, on a boat, and it is indispensable in the event of a natural disaster, power outage, storms, floods, or any local or national emergency when treated tap water is no longer available.

How Filtration Works

A principle that integrates several techniques

Microfiltration

Berkey® purification elements are composed of a unique system consisting of six types of media, assembled in a very compact matrix containing millions of microscopic pores. These pores are so small that they create what we can call a "tortuous path". Pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, VOCs, detergents, turbidity, sedimentary minerals, bad tastes, and odors must pass through this. These channels are so tiny that these pollutants cannot physically pass through them and are therefore trapped and removed from your drinking water. This process is called microfiltration.

Absorption and Adsorption

The media used in water filters has unique properties of adsorption and absorption. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon whereby atoms, ions, or molecules are trapped on a solid surface. An ionic barrier similar to surface tension is created, allowing the tiny pores to block water contaminants smaller than their own size. This blocking process allows Berkey® water filters to remove submicron viruses, something other water filters cannot do without using chemicals like iodine or chlorine.

Heavy metal ions (mineral molecules) such as cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, aluminum, and other dangerous heavy metals are removed from water through an ion exchange process where they are attracted and electrically bound to the media.

Flow Rate

Berkey® water filters are highly effective at removing water contaminants due to an extremely long "contact period". Other systems rely on water pressure that forces water molecules through the filtration elements at pressures between 4 and 6 bars. These water molecules come into contact with the filtration media for just a fraction of a second. In comparison, water molecules passing through the Black Berkey® elements are gently pushed by gravity and remain in contact with the media for a long period. This allows the filtration media to be more effective at capturing contaminants. This advanced technology has been developed, perfected, and proven over many years of research and testing by water purification specialists, researchers, and engineers. The flow rate or exposure time through the Black Berkey® purification elements has been calculated to achieve the highest possible volume of potential contaminant removal in your water, regardless of its source.