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Berkey Purification Systems

Boil Water Orders

How should I use my Berkey® system during a boil order?

The Black Berkey® Purification Elements that come standard with all Berkey® Systems have been tested to remove different bacteria as well as viral contaminants from drinking water. These purifiers will not only remove chemical and heavy metal contaminants that can be found in “clean” drinking water, but can also provide a final barrier between you and your drinking water during a boil order.

You do not need to boil your water in addition to running it through the Black Berkey® Purification Elements. Black Berkey® Purification Elements remove biological contaminants as well as heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, and other waterborne contaminants. These purifiers stand as a clean and cost-effective alternative to buying copious amounts of bottled water during an emergency.

However, as an additional precaution, if using a source of water that you believe might contain extreme viral and bacteriological contamination such as E. coli, it is recommended by the CDC, EPA and other organizations that approximately sixteen drops of plain bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or iodine per gallon be added to treat the source water before purifying. This should kill minute pathogens such as viruses, within 30 minutes.4 Simply add the drops to a pitcher of water, wait a half hour and then pour the treated water into the top chamber of your system. The disinfectant will be removed from the treated water entirely with the Berkey® system, including any odor or taste.

Dealing with Well Water

How do wells work, and where are they typically located?

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Found primarily in rural areas, wells tap into underground pockets of water, called aquifers, and pump it into the pipes of your home for drinking, cooking, cleaning and sanitation. Wells are recharged when precipitation and water used for irrigating crops and landscapes seeps into the rock below the surface of the earth. The level of the water table—a boundary between water-saturated ground and unsaturated ground—can fluctuate due to annual rainfall patterns, droughts and the amount of water being pumped out from the aquifer.

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PROXIMITY TO POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION

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Potential contamination sources in the area are another factor to consider. Pollution from nearby agricultural, industrial and routine human activity can seep into your well water, drastically affecting its fitness for consumption. Sources can include:

  • Leaks or spills of industrial chemicals at manufacturing facilities

  • Livestock wastes

  • On-site septic systems

  • Contaminants in rain, snow, and dry atmospheric fallout

  • Toxins leaking from graveyards

  • Fertilizers and pesticides on agricultural land

  • Industrial waste from underground injection wells

  • Runoff of salt and other chemicals from roads and highways

  • Leaky tanks or pipelines containing petroleum products

 

WATER TREATMENT OPTIONS

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  • When wells test positive for bacteria or other pathogens, there are a number of ways to treat the water.

  • Shock chlorination uses very high levels of chlorine to kill bacteria. It’s a common and effective method of disinfecting wells, but requires some planning since faucets and toilets should not be used for at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 24 hours.22 A one-time treatment may be all that’s necessary, but if a follow-up sample 10-14 days later tests positive for bacteria, the reason for contamination must be identified and corrected.

  • Ultraviolet irradiation is a cost-effective, continuous treatment process that uses UV light to inactivate bacteria and viruses in your drinking water by disrupting their DNA.23 UV irradiation does not remove chemicals from your water, and water quality factors such as turbidity and suspended solids can reduce the treatments effectiveness.

  • Reverse osmosis systems pass water through a semipermeable membrane to remove bacteria, viruses and protozoa.24 They also reduce certain tastes, some pesticides, high chloride content, nitrate, heavy metals, and arsenic.25 Minerals are also removed during the reverse osmosis process. Due to the equipment and plumbing costs involved, this option can be quite expensive with whole-house systems ranging from $12,000-$18,000.

  • Distillation purifies water by boiling it and collecting the steam. The process removes sediment, high total dissolved solids, pesticides (if properly equipped with a gas vent), fluoride, nitrate, lead, copper and other heavy metals, arsenic, and bacteria.26 Depending on the system, and if operated properly, it may also effectively inactivate microorganisms such as bacteria, cysts and viruses.27 Distillation does not remove chlorine, chlorine byproducts, some VOCs, certain herbicides and other chemicals with boiling points lower than or near that of water.

  • Gravity-fed water purification systems made by Berkey® Systems are based on a simple and efficient process that uses gravity to pull water through microporous filters or elements. This traps contaminants while allowing beneficial minerals to pass though. Berkey® systems are powerful, very cost-efficient and require no electricity or special plumbing, which makes them an ideal choice for everyday use and emergencies.

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Take Control of Your Well Water With a Berkey® Water Purification System

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  • Berkey® Systems are the top choice for everyone who is considering a gravity-fed system to purify their well water.

  • Berkey® System Benefits:

  • Powerful- Berkey® purifiers remove a broad universe of contaminants, from toxic chemicals and minerals to pathogenic bacteria and virus, while leaving in the healthy minerals your body needs.

  • Efficient- Berkey® purifiers are the fastest-producing gravity fed water purification systems on the market, purifying water up to eight times faster that other available systems.

  • Convenient- The purification elements may be cleaned, eliminating frequent replacements.

  • Effortless- The design replaces slow and exhausting manual pumps with the natural force of gravity. At the same time the system remains simple to use, making it a breeze; whether in the kitchen or deep in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Portable- Berkey® purifiers travel easily and function without electricity or water pressure.

  • Durable- Constructed of highly-polished surgical grade AISI 304 stainless steel, the housing is built to last.

  • Economical- Two Black Berkey® Purification Elements, which come standard with most systems, average 2 cents per gallon of purified water, and last up to 6,000 gallons, or approximately 5-8 years with typical use.

  • Proven- Used by individuals, missionaries, and relief organizations worldwide, Berkey® systems have truly stood the test of time.

  • THE BOTTOM LINE

  • Berkey® Water Purification Systems address a broad universe of potential contaminants, including viruses, bacteria, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and even radiologicals while leaving in the healthy minerals your body needs. Confidently use your Berkey® System as a final barrier solution daily.

Black Berkey Purification Elements:  Filtration Specifications

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The Black Berkey Purification Elements far surpass other water filters in filtration capability as evidenced by their extensive filtration specifications. These elements have a specialized purification process that is due to their unique structure. The element's filtration media is a combination of micro-pores, which trap harmful contaminants like bacteria, and revolutionary material with adsorption and ion exchange properties that essentially attract molecules and viruses to the media, preventing them from passing into your drinking water.

Many water filters on the market may claim to be a purifier but do not meet the performance specifications required for this classification. In order to be classified as a water purifier, a water treatment device must remove at least 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria (known as a log 6 reduction in the water treatment industry) and reduce viruses by 99.99% (log 4 reduction). Our Berkey water filter systems can be classified as a water purifier because the elements actually remove 99.9999999% of pathogenic bacteria (log 9 reduction) and 99.999% of viruses which greatly exceeds the standards.

The Black Berkey filters have been tested by several EPA-accredited laboratories including the Department of Toxicology and Environmental Science at Louisiana University, Spectrum Labs, and the University of Phoenix. This extensive testing confirmed that the Black Berkey Purification Elements far exceed EPA and ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) protocol.

The Black Berkey filters have been tested and confirmed to remove or greatly reduce the contaminants listed below.

 Viruses:  Removed to >99.999% (Log 5)

 MS2 Coliphage - Fr Coliphage

*Exceeds purification standards (Log 4)

Pathogenic Bacteria (And Surrogates): Removed to >99.9999%

Raoultella terrigena (Pathogenic Bacteria Surrogate); Bacillus atrophaues (Anthrax Surrogate); Salmonella Enterica

*Exceeds purification standard (Log 6)

Trihalomethanes: Removed to >99.8%

Bromodichloromethane; Bromoform; Chloroform: Dibromochloromethane

*Below Lab Detectable Limits

 

Inorganic Minerals

Chloramine; Chloride; Chlorine Residual (Total Residual Chlorine); Free Chlorine

 *Removed to Below Lab Detectable Limits

Heavy Metals (High & Low pH Levels) 

Aluminum (>99%); Antimony (>99.9%); Barium (>80%); Beryllium (>99.9%); Bismuth (>99.9%); Cadmium (>99.7%); Cobalt (>95%); Chromium (>99.9%); Chromium 6 (>99.85%); Copper (>99.9%); Iron (>99.9%); Lead (>99.9%); Mercury (>99.9%); Molybdenum (>90%); Nickel (>99.9%); Vanadium (>87.5%); Zinc (>99.9%)

Micro-Organisms:  Removed to >99.9%

Including:  Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, e.Coli

Pharmaceutical Drug Contaminants:  Removed to >99.9%

Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Carbamazepine; Ciprofloxacin HCl; Erythromycin USP; Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim; Bisphenol A; Diclofenac Sodium; 4-para-Nonylphenol; 4-tert-Octylphenol; Primidone; Progestrone; Gemfibrozil; Ibuprofen; Naproxen Sodium; Triclosan.

Pesticides & Volatile Organic Compounds:  Removed to Below Lab Detectable Limits

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA), 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane (1,1-DCA), 1,1-Dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2-Dibromoethane, 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 123a), 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorobenzene-d4, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichlorobenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropene, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, 2-Butanone (MEK), 2-Chlorotoluene, 2-Hexanone, 2-Methyl-2-propanol, 3,5-Dichlorobenzoic Acid, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, 4-Bromofluorobenzene, 4-Chlorotoluene, 4-Isopropyltoluene, 4-Methyl-2-pentanone, 4-Nitrophenol4,4′-DDD4,4′-DDE, 4,4″-DDT, 5-Hydroxydicamba, Acetone, Acenaphthylene, Acifluorfen, Alachlor, Aldicarb, Aldicarb Sulfone, Aldicarb Sulfoxide, Aldrin, alpha-Chlorodane, Ametryn, Anthracene, Aroclor (1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260), Atraton, Atrazine, Baygon, Bentazon, Benzene, Bromacil, Bromoacetic Acid, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromomethane, Bromoform, Butachlor, Butylate, Butylbenzylphthalate, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon Tetrachloride, Carboxin, Chloramben, Chlordane, Chloroacetic Acid, Chlorobenzene, Chlorobenzilate, Chloroethane, Chloroform, Chloromethane, Chlorpropham, Chlorprophane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, cis-Nonachlor, Cycloate, Dacthal Acid, Dalapon, Diazinona, Dibromoacetic Acid, Dibromochloropropane (DBCP), Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichloroacetic Acid, Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 12), Dichloromethane, Dichlorvos, Diclorprop, DieldrinDiethylphthalate, Dinoseb, Diphenamid, Disulfoton, Disulfoton Sulfone, Disulfoton Sulfoxidea, Endrin, EPTC, Ethoprop, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene Dibromide (EDB), Fenamiphos, Fenarimol, Fluorobenzene, Fluridone, gamma-Chlorodane, Glyphosate, Halo acidic Acids (HAA5), Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene (CCC), Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, HexazinoneIsophorone, Isopropylbenzene (Cumene), Lindane (Gamma-BHC), Merphos, Methiocarb, Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Methylcyclohexane-methane, Methyl Paraoxon, Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Mevinphos, MGK 264, Molinate, Monochlorobenzene, m-Xylenes, Naphthalene, Napropamide, n-Butylbenzene, Norflurazon, n-Propylbenzene, Oxamyl, o-Xylene, Pebulate, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram. Prometon, Prometryn, Pronamidea, Propazine, p-Xylenes, sec-Butylbenzene, Simazine, Simetryn, Stirofos, Styrene, Tebuthiuron, Terbacil, Terbufos, Terbutryn, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Tetrahydrofuran (THF), Thiobencarb, Toluene, Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, trans-Nonachlor, Triademefon, Tribromoacetic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid, Trichloroethene (TCE), Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC 11), Tricyclazole, Trifuralin, Vernolate, Vinyl Chloride, and many more*

 

Also removes or reduces:

Arsenic (>99.9%); Escherichia coli (E. Coli) (>99.999%); Fluorene (>99.9%); Manganese (>99.9%); MBAS (>96.67%); Nitrites (>95%); PCB’s (>99.9%); Petroleum Products (Gasoline, Diesel, Crude Oil, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, Refined Oil- All >99.9%); Selenium (>99.9%); Thallium (>99.5%); Rust; Silt; Sediment; Turbidity; Foul Tastes and odours.

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