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 no tools are needed, no electricity and there is no need to be connected to a water supply. Maintenance is very easy and is not time consuming.

Economical

It's the most cost effective water purification system you can find, our cost comparison proves it! Its unique design makes removing and cleaning of the purification elements easy. 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 practical and simple to use that you can take it anywhere: on holiday, for outdoor activities, camping, on a boat, and it is essential in the event of a natural disaster, power cuts, storms, floods, or any local or national emergency when treated tap water is no longer accessible.

How Filtration Works

A concept that integrates several techniques

Microfiltration

Berkey® purification elements incorporate a unique system made up of six different types of media, forming a very compact matrix containing millions of microscopic pores. These extremely small pores create what we can call a "tortuous path". Pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, VOCs, detergents, turbidity, sedimentary minerals, bad tastes, and odours have to pass through this. However, these channels are so tiny that these pollutants cannot physically pass through them and are therefore trapped and eliminated 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 where atoms, ions, or molecules attach themselves to a solid surface. An ionic barrier similar to surface tension is created, allows the tiny pores to block water contaminants smaller than their own size. This  process allows Berkey® water filters to remove submicron viruses without using chemicals like iodine or chlorine, something other water filters cannot do.

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

Flow Rate

Thanks to a very lon contact period, Berkey® water filters are highly effective at removing contaminants from water. Other systems use water pressure to force water molecules through the filter elements at pressures between 4 and 6 bars, with contact times of just fractions of a second. In comparison, water molecules passing through the Black Berkey® filters are pushed  gently by gravity and remain in contact with the media for longer, making contaminant capture more effective. This advanced technology has been developed, perfected, and proven over the years by water purification experts, researchers and engineers. The flow rate or exposure time of Black Berkey® purification elements has been calculated to achieve the highest possible removal of potential contaminants from your water, whatever the source.