What do the Berkey® systems filter?

What do the Berkey® systems filter?

Black Berkey® Purification Elements are some of the best filters on the market. The Elements have an exceptional purification capability that is due to their unique structure. The micro-pores within the Black Berkey® Elements are so small that viruses and pathogenic bacteria are simply not able to pass through them.  

Water filter vs. Water purifier

Many water filters on the market may claim to be a water 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 and reduce viruses by 99.99%. The Black Berkey® Water Purification Elements can be classified as water purifiers because they remove 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria (6 log) and 99.999% of viruses (5 log), which greatly exceeds the standard. 

Summary of Lab Test Results

The Black Berkey filters have been tested and confirmed to remove or reduce the contaminants listed below.
  1. Viruses: 99.999% reduction - MS2 Coliphage - Fr Coliphage. Exceeds purification standards (Log 5)
  2. Pathogenic Bacteria Surrogate: >99.9999% - Raoultella terrigena (Pathogenic Bacteria Surrogate); Bacillus atrophaues (Anthrax Surrogate); Salmonella Enterica. Exceeds purification standard (Log 6)
  3. Trihalomethanes: Removed to below lab detectable limits >99.8% reduction - Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane 
  4. Inorganic Minerals: Removed to below lab detectable limits - Chloramine; Chloride; Chlorine Residual (Total Residual Chlorine); Free Chlorine
  5. Heavy Metals: Greater than 99% reduction for most metals - 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%)
  6. Volatile Organic Compounds:  Removed to below lab detectable limits - Over 200 VOC’s tested – see lab test results for details.
  7. 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 Odors.

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