Berkey Filters - Black Berkey Replacement Elements

Black Berkey Purification Filters

The Black Berkey filters, sometimes also called Black Berkey Purification Elements, are the true powerhouse of the Berkey system. They work according to different principles: absorption 1, absorption 2, and microfiltration. These methods are combined to create a unique filtration process.* *Read more about this below.

The lifespan is 11,356 liters of water per filter and 22,712 liters of water per set of 2 filters. A set (2 pieces) of Black Berkey filters should therefore last approximately two to five years depending on how many liters you use.

Note: Before installing the new filters, they need to be primed - they need to be saturated - to remove air inside so that water can pass through easily. Please watch the video by the images, it is in English.

What does the filter remove?

Over 200 contaminants are removed, including:

• Viruses (99.999%)
• Pathogenic bacteria (99.9999%)
• Chloramine (below laboratory detection limits)
• Trihalomethanes (99.8%)
• Pharmaceuticals (99.9%)
• Most heavy metals
• Pesticides (below laboratory detection 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 capability relatively quickly.

How does the filter work?

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 highly compact matrix containing millions of microscopic pores. The microscopic topography on the surface of the filter elements contains millions of tiny holes that allow water to pass through. These holes are so small that contaminants physically cannot pass through them.

Furthermore, 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.

2. Absorption 1

The technique Berkey uses for this step in the filtration process is ion exchange. This process is similar to leaving an opened box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb strange odors. Heavy metal ions are extracted through an ion exchange process.

3. Adsorption 2

Adsorption 2 creates an ionic barrier similar to surface tension. The barrier that extends between the micropores blocks water contaminants, such as submicron viruses, that are smaller than the pore size itself. Berkey filters utilize the electrostatic charge of viruses and pull them towards the tunnel walls in the filter's "tortuous path". Similar to static cling, it holds 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 the 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.

Is the filter dripping too slowly?

What usually causes 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 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.

Contents: 2 extra filters.
Material: Composition is high-quality carbon from coconut shells mixed with 5 other proprietary media.
Manufacturer: Berkey Filters, USA.