As you may have discovered, Black Berkey filters are no longer available on the market due to a Stop Sale Order issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), related to compliance with required testing and labeling.
We’ve worked hard to find a high-quality alternative for our Berkey customers, and we’re happy to share that the Coldstream FTO+ filters are now our recommended replacement.
In terms of water quality, the Coldstream FTO+ and Black Berkey are equivalent, but the Coldstream filters offer several key advantages:
- No priming required, a big plus for users who found the Black Berkey priming process messy and frustrating.
- NSF-tested and certified, with transparent lab results published for performance up to 3,000 liters per filter, double the suggested 1,500-liter lifespan.
- More affordable pricing. Berkey systems and filters have seen steep price increases in recent years, while Coldstream offers better pricing aligned with actual production costs.
- Superior contaminant coverage. FTO+ filters remove viruses, bacteria, chemicals, hormones, lead, VOCs, fluoride, and nitrates, without needing additional filters like the PF2 used with Berkey systems.