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For as long as I've lived in apartment buildings with older plumbing, I've relied on a water filter to make my tap water more palatable. My first choice was one of the best water filter pitchers, as it seemed easy to maintain and a cost-effective alternative to buying bottled water. I dabbled with a filter attached directly to the faucet and even a water delivery service when my husband and my hydration needs outgrew our filter's capacity.
While getting water delivered might make sense in a home with space to store multiple 5-gallon jugs, I longed for a water filtration system that didn't make us dependent on a subscription service. Enter the Berkey, a freestanding, gravity-fed filter that promises clean drinking water anytime, anywhere you have access to water.
The stand-alone water filtration system uses gravity and activated charcoal filters to remove contaminants and store potable water in the 1.5-gallon lower chamber.
- Effective filtration for great tasting water
- Doesn't require electricity
- Filters last to 6,000 gallons each
- Can be placed anywhere
- Very industrial in appearance
- Replacement filters can be costly
Design
All Berkey systems are built similarly: a lidded stainless steel chamber with two filters sits on top of another stainless steel receptacle with a plastic spigot. I own the Travel Berkey, which measures 7.5 inches in diameter and 18 inches tall, large enough to hold 1.5 gallons of filtered water at a time. If you have the counter clearance, you can set the Berkey on the edge of your sink. There's also a wire stand to keep the filter system higher off the countertop if you prefer.
The Travel version is a bit of a misnomer. It's not lightweight, but it is perfect for a household of one to three people. The Berkey comes with two Black Berkey Elements, filters made of a "carbon composite containing high-grade coconut shell carbon combined with a proprietary blend of 5 other types of media", according to Berkey. Essentially, it's activated charcoal and then some. Larger models can run on two filters with space to fit eight filters for quicker filtration and an option for additional fluoride filters.
How it works
The filters allow for microfiltration, absorption, and adsorption. Berkey's microfiltration uses six different media types to create tiny holes that physical pollutants — think dust, sediment, bacteria, and parasites — cannot pass through. Then, heavy metals like chromium, lead, and copper are removed from water through an ion exchange. Lastly, adsorption creates a barrier between the filters' micropores to block additional contaminants, resulting in potable water. Berkey's website has a full list of contaminants the filters target and more documentation of the testing that garnered these results.
The initial setup takes a little time. You have to prime the filters by soaking them, then test them with red dye to make sure they're working correctly. Once you finish setting up, one of the biggest pluses of this type of filter is that it works anywhere and doesn't require electricity. This was a big selling point for my "always be prepared" husband, who loves that we could be stocked with drinking water even in an emergency.
Cons to consider
The main issue for many is the initial cost: the smallest Berkey system will set you back around $330, with the largest system price at $478. In comparison, a Brita filter pitcher starts at $20. Replacement filters aren't cheap either, averaging about $140 for a set of two. The upside is that the filters are good up until around 6,000 gallons, which averages anywhere from two to six years, depending on your water consumption.
Another consideration is that the Berkey needs time to process unfiltered water. With a flow rate of 2.75 gallons per hour, you'll want to ensure that you're refilling the Berkey as fast as you tap it. If you need a lot of filtered water at once and empty the bottom chamber, it will take a while to replenish.
What are your alternatives?
When we had a smaller apartment, I relied heavily on the Aquasana Clean Water Machine. This countertop model is about the size of a Nespresso or Keurig machine and forces water through an internal filter which results in quick filtration. It does require electricity and can be a bit noisy. If you like the idea of a Berkey but find it too industrial, the newly launched Boroux Legacy is an elegant option. It's currently only available in a 3-gallon size, but it is also a lot less expensive than the same size Berkey.
The bottom line
The Berkey systems are tried-and-true — I've been using the Travel Berkey at home for nearly two years now with no issues. It requires no electricity and can be placed anywhere in your home. While the upfront costs might seem high, this filtration system has already saved me countless dollars on buying bottled water, and it will be at least another year or two before we need to replace its filters.
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