Meghan Hodges
Water filters are an essential tool to ensure access to clean drinking water, which is becoming increasingly difficult due to the prevalence of water pollution. The Berkey Water Filter System is a popular option, claiming to remove more than a hundred contaminants. However, it is important to independently test these claims to ensure that your water is free from pollutants. Performance testing involves two identical tests, one for your water source and one for your filtered water, allowing you to compare the results and understand your specific contaminant concerns. While Berkey recommends a red dye test to check that the filter is working, this is not a comprehensive evaluation of the filter's performance. To truly understand the effectiveness of your Berkey Water Filter, it is necessary to conduct full performance tests.
How to test my Berkey water for pollutants
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of tests | 2 (one for water source, one for filtered water) |
| Test type | Performance test |
| When to test | When you get new filters and every 3-6 months |
| What the test verifies | That the system operates properly and that there are no internal leaks |
| How to test | Add red food coloring to the water in the upper chamber and allow the water to run through to the bottom chamber. If the water in the bottom chamber is clear, the system is working properly |
| What the results mean | If the water in the bottom chamber is red or has a pinkish tinge, the black filter is defective or exhausted |
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What You'll Learn
Perform a red food colouring test
The red food colouring test is a simple way to check that your Berkey water filter is working as it should. It is designed specifically for the Black Berkey Filter Purification elements, which are powerful enough to remove red food colouring from water.
This test is recommended when you first receive your Berkey water filter and then every three to six months to ensure the filters are working properly. It is also useful to perform the test after removing or replacing the Black Berkey filters, or after drying and storing the elements for a long period of time.
To perform the test, start with an empty system and remove any Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Filters. Place the upper chamber only (with the filter elements installed) on similarly-sized cups directly underneath each Black Berkey Filter element. This will help to isolate which filter may be exhausted and which is still purifying effectively. Next, fill the upper chamber with water and add red food colouring — a teaspoon of colouring for every gallon of water. Allow the water to run through to the bottom chamber. If the purification system is working as it should, the red food colouring will be removed entirely. If the water in any cup is red or has a pinkish tinge, the black filter is defective or exhausted.
Please note that this test is not a full performance test of your Berkey water filter. It does not evaluate the filter's ability to remove contaminants.
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Understand what contaminants to look for
Understanding the types of contaminants in drinking water is essential for testing and treating your Berkey water. According to the US EPA, a "contaminant" in drinking water can be any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance, excluding water molecules.
Biological Contaminants
These are organisms or microbes in the water, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites. Microbial contamination, especially from faecal matter, poses a significant risk to drinking water safety and can lead to diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.
Chemical Contaminants
Chemical contaminants can be naturally occurring, such as arsenic and fluoride in groundwater, or introduced through industrial and agricultural activities. Lead, for example, can leach into drinking water from water supply components.
Radiological Contaminants
These are chemical elements with unstable atoms that emit ionizing radiation, including cesium, plutonium, and uranium.
When testing your Berkey water, it is essential to identify the specific contaminants you want to target. Full performance tests involve analysing your water quality before and after filtration. This helps establish a baseline and assess the effectiveness of your Berkey filter in removing contaminants.
Additionally, certain contaminants are recommended for testing based on your water source. For instance, if your water comes from a well, a local spring, or harvested rainwater, testing for bacteria and other pathogens is crucial. Public utilities typically chlorinate water to kill microbes, but Berkey filters claim high removal rates for bacteria and viruses. However, these filters may not kill the pathogens, so regular filter maintenance and replacement are important to prevent microbial growth.
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Compare unfiltered water to filtered water
Unfiltered water is water that comes directly from the tap without undergoing any additional treatment or filtration. While it is generally considered safe for consumption, it may contain impurities such as chlorine, sediment, heavy metals, and chemical contaminants like pesticides, industrial chemicals, and pollutants. These impurities can affect the taste and odour of unfiltered water, making it unpleasant to drink.
Filtered water, on the other hand, undergoes a treatment process where it passes through a filtration system to remove impurities and contaminants. There are various types of filtration technologies available, such as adsorption, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and mechanical separation. These filtration systems aim to reduce or eliminate toxins, pathogens, heavy metals, chemicals, and bacteria present in the water, making it safer and healthier for consumption.
One popular filtration system is the Berkey Water Filter, which claims to remove more than a hundred contaminants. However, it is important to note that the Berkey filters have not been independently certified to NSF/ANSI standards. Performance testing is recommended to verify the effectiveness of the Berkey filters in removing contaminants. This involves conducting two identical tests, one for the water source (unfiltered water) and the other for the filtered water, allowing for a direct comparison of contaminant levels.
When deciding between unfiltered and filtered water, it ultimately depends on individual priorities and the quality of the local water supply. Unfiltered water is more convenient, regulated for safety in many areas, and more affordable due to the absence of upfront and maintenance costs associated with filtration systems. On the other hand, filtered water provides improved taste, odour, and peace of mind by removing impurities and contaminants, making it the preferred choice for those prioritising water quality and health.
It is worth noting that the benefits of filtration depend on the specific filter used and the characteristics of the water being treated. Filters require regular maintenance and cartridge replacements to prevent bacterial growth and ensure their effectiveness in providing clean and safe drinking water.
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Test for bacteria and other pathogens
Testing your water source is essential to understanding your unique contaminant profile. This is especially true if your water comes from a private well, local spring, or harvested rainwater, as it may contain bacteria and other pathogens.
If you get your water from a private well, the Essential Well Water Test is recommended as it provides a baseline evaluation of well water quality, including bacteria and nitrates. Wells should be tested annually because bacteria can return, and private water isn't monitored by the city or a company.
If your water comes from a local spring or harvested rainwater, the Essential Rainwater Test or the Advanced Spring Water Test is recommended. These tests will provide an understanding of your water's contaminant profile, which is necessary for choosing the right filtration system.
Berkey claims that its filters remove 99.9999% of bacteria and >99.999% of viruses. The micro-pores in the Black Berkey® filters are designed to prevent micro-particles such as viruses and bacteria from passing through. Silver is used as an anti-microbial agent, allowing each Black Berkey® element to self-sterilize. Laboratory tests have confirmed that the silver used does not dissolve in the purified water.
However, it's important to note that filters that remove bacteria or other pathogens do not necessarily kill them, allowing them to remain and possibly proliferate on the filter elements. Therefore, if you know your water is suffering from microbial contamination, it's crucial to change your filter soon afterward.
To test your Berkey water filter for bacteria and other pathogens, you can follow these steps:
- Consult the instructions provided with your test kit for collecting water samples and shipping them to the laboratory.
- Before testing, empty your Berkey of any remaining water in the system.
- Collect the water samples as per the instructions, ensuring that you follow any specific guidelines for handling and shipping the samples.
- Send the samples to the laboratory for analysis.
- Wait for the test results, which will indicate the presence and levels of bacteria and other pathogens in your water.
- If bacteria or other pathogens are detected, consider changing your filter and taking appropriate measures to ensure the safety of your drinking water.
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Check for missing certifications
While Berkey water filters are popular, they are not certified to any NSF/ANSI standards. These standards include rigorous performance testing in a laboratory environment. The lack of certification makes it challenging to compare the performance of Berkey filters against other water filtration systems.
NSF Standard 42 and Standard 53 are the specific certifications applicable to the Berkey filtration system. Standard 42 covers systems designed to reduce aesthetic or non-health-related contaminants, such as chlorine, taste, odour, and particulates, in drinking water. Standard 53 addresses systems that aim to reduce specific health-related contaminants, including lead, VOCs, MTBE, and other contaminants commonly found in drinking water.
Berkey claims that their filters exceed the requirements of these standards, addressing over 200 typical contaminants found in tap water and other freshwater sources. However, without the NSF/ANSI certification, it is difficult to verify these claims independently.
The absence of certifications can impact the ability to make meaningful comparisons between Berkey and its competitors. While Berkey asserts that its filters remove 99.999% of contaminants, competitors like Aquasana back up their claims by meeting NSF standards. The lack of certification also raises questions about the effectiveness of Berkey filters in removing certain pollutants, such as chloroform.
In summary, the missing NSF/ANSI certifications for Berkey water filters make it challenging to independently verify the performance and effectiveness of the system in removing contaminants. This lack of certification can impact purchasing decisions and comparisons with other water filtration options.
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Frequently asked questions
Performance test it. This involves testing your water before and after it passes through the filter to see what contaminants are being removed.
The Berkey water filter removes or reduces trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals, among other contaminants.
You can test your Berkey water filter by performing a red food coloring test. This test verifies that your system has been assembled correctly and that there are no internal leaks.
It is recommended to perform the red food coloring test when you first get your filter and then every 3-6 months.
It is important to note that Berkey water filters are not certified to NSF/ANSI standards, so it is a good idea to performance test your filter to ensure it is living up to its claims.
