Berkey Filters - Big Berkey Water Filter, 8.5 liters

Big Berkey

Big Berkey is Berkey's best-selling system and contains the same powerful filters as all other systems. The functionality of the Big Berkey makes it so versatile that it works in multiple situations. Its capacity of 8.5 liters can provide plenty of water for medium-sized families of one to four people, without taking up valuable counter or refrigerator space. This unit fits perfectly in the kitchen, RV, tiny house, or cottage.

The lid and both the upper and lower chambers are all made from high-quality, durable 304 stainless steel that is designed to last a lifetime. This water filtration system comes with everything you need to start purifying your drinking water within minutes after assembly, including instructions. It comes with 2 Black Berkey Purification Filters. Please watch the video on how to assemble the Berkey system.

What is a Berkey water filter system?

The Berkey water filter is an efficient, standalone water purification system designed to provide drinking water for daily use or in emergency situations. It requires no electricity as it is gravity-fed. Water from almost any source can be poured into the unit's upper chamber, and by the time it reaches the lower chamber, it becomes the purest and healthiest water you can drink.

How do Berkey filters work?

The Black Berkey filters, sometimes also called Black Berkey Purification Elements, are the real powerhouse of the Berkey system. They function according to different principles: absorption 1, absorption 2, and microfiltration. These methods are combined and blended to create a unique filtration process.

The exclusive filter element consists of Berkey's Black Berkey Purification Filters (two included). The composition is high-quality carbon from coconut shells mixed with 5 other proprietary media. A pair of Black Berkey filters should last approximately two to five years or 22,700 liters of water. The rate at which the filters produce water will decrease. This is an indication that the filter needs cleaning.

1. Microfiltration

The first line of defense against contaminants is the material that the Black Berkey filters are made of. Each cylindrical filter consists of a composition of more than six different media types, all constructed in a very compact matrix containing millions of microscopic pores. The microscopic topography on the filter elements' surface contains millions of tiny holes that allow water to pass through.

These holes are so small that contaminants physically cannot pass through them. Additionally, these micropores pass through the filter housing in intricate turns called "tortuous paths", which causes the smallest pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, sediment, and sedimentary minerals to become further trapped. Unfortunately, in modern times there are more contaminants to deal with than just bacteria. Agricultural and industrial activities can contaminate water with pollutants such as heavy metals and volatile chemicals that require more than just microfiltration.

2. Absorption 1

The technique Berkey uses for this step in the filtration process is ion exchange. This process is similar to leaving an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb strange odors.

Heavy metal ions (chromium, lead, or copper molecules) are extracted from the water through an ion exchange process where they are attracted to and transformed by binding electrically to the media. Ions are molecules that are unbalanced - the number of electrons is not equal to the number of protons. The molecules want to restore balance and are therefore drawn to other molecules that can equalize their charge. The Black Berkey filters are charged with ions that attract contaminating molecules. These molecules are absorbed and permanently bound to the filter and never enter the drinking water in Berkey's bottom chamber.

3. Adsorption 2

Adsorption 2 creates an ionic barrier similar to surface tension. The barrier that extends between the micropores blocks water contaminants, e.g., submicron viruses, that are smaller than the pore size itself.

Berkey filters utilize the viruses' electrostatic charge and pull them towards the tunnel walls in the filter's "tortuous path". Similar to static cling, it holds the small viruses against the filter surfaces and never lets go. Berkey has earned the prestigious classification of water purifier, not just water filter, due to its ability to remove viruses.

Due to Berkey's gravity flow, it takes several minutes for water molecules to pass through the filter elements, while molecules in other filtration systems pass through in fractions of a second. The longer contact time between water molecules and the filter medium provides a much greater separation of harmful water contaminants that cannot be achieved with conventional pressure water filtration methods.

Filling Capacity:

Big Berkey can provide 8.5 liters per hour with 2 filters and up to 26 liters per hour with 4 filters.

Usage:

When you receive your Berkey, first wash all parts with hot water and natural dish soap. The filters should not be washed with dish soap; they can be rinsed with cold water and scrubbed with a sponge. The filter elements need to be primed, meaning saturated to remove all air from them. Then assemble all parts. Follow the instructions and feel free to watch the video included among the images.

Every time you fill the upper chamber of your Berkey water filter system, you should fill it up to the top of the filters. If you only partially fill the system, the filters may wear unevenly, as the lower part of the filter does all the work.

This leads to significantly slower filtration rates. Always ensure the lower chamber is empty before filling the upper chamber to avoid overflow. Maintenance / Cleaning:

What typically causes the filters to drip slowly is turbidity and sediment clogging the micropores in the elements. Simply remove the elements from your system and clean them by scrubbing the outside of each element under running water with a green scrubber (e.g., Scotch Brite) or a stiff toothbrush. It's easy to do and takes less than a minute per element. If they don't filter faster after cleaning, it's time to replace them.

What does the filter remove?

Over 200 contaminants are removed, including: - Viruses (99.999%)

• Pathogenic bacteria (99.9999%)
• Chloramine (below laboratory detectable limits)
• Trihalomethanes (99.8%)
• Pharmaceuticals (99.9%)
• Most heavy metals
• Pesticides (below laboratory detectable limits)

Find test results here.

Regarding fluoride removal: NMCL's latest laboratory tests show that Black Berkey filters initially reduce fluoride up to 99.9%. However, the filter loses this ability quite rapidly. In other words, they don't reduce fluoride for as long as the filter lasts for the other 200 contaminants.

Which Berkey water system should I choose?

Berkey water filter systems come in several different models. Each Berkey model has been designed with a specific set of features in mind.

The most important factor to consider when deciding which size is best is how many people will be using the Berkey filter and how many liters of water need to be supplied.

Also consider how the filter will be used - will the purified water be used only for drinking water, or will the system also be needed for hygiene and cooking purposes. Do you need a lightweight plastic version or a stainless steel model? Finally, will the system be used for everyday use or only in emergency situations?

All models produce water of the same high quality. The difference between the models is the amount of water they can produce per hour and the size of the storage container. The most popular model is the Big Berkey in stainless steel, and it's excellent for an average household.

Larger Berkeys also accommodate more filter elements, which allows the system to produce water faster due to the higher flow rate and have two extra filters if needed.

Size: 53.3 cm high and 21.5 cm wide. Weight: 3.2 kg without water, approx. 11.6 with water.

Material: 304 stainless steel.

Color: High-polished stainless steel. Manufacturer: Berkey Filters, USA.