Big Berkey w/ 2 Black Berkey
July 29, 2010 | Posted by elvin 
- 2.25 Gallon holding Volume
- Height = 19.25″ ; Diameter = 8.5″
- Purifies 3.5 Gallons / Hour
- High Grade 304 Stainless Steel
- 2 Black Berkeys good for 6000 Gallons
Product Description
The versatile Big Berkey system is the ideal system for use at home with small or medium sized families, travel, outdoor activities or during unexpected emergencies.
This powerful system purifies both treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. Perfect for everyday use, outdoor activities and a must in hostile environments where electricity, water pressure or treated water may not be available.
The Big Berkey system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222 and trihalomethanes. It also reduces nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury. This system is so powerful it can remove food coloring from water without removing the beneficial minerals your body needs. Virtually no other system can duplicate this performance.
Constructed of highly polished 304 stainless steel, the system comes complete with two purification elements and utilizes the latest technological advances. This system has a storage capacity of about 2.25 gallons (8.5 liters) and when in use it stands 19.25″ in height with a diameter of 8.5″. The upper chamber nests within the lower chamber for transport and stands only 13″ in height.
Configured with two Black Berkey purification elements the system will purify up to 3 1/2 Gallons (13.3 liters) per hour.
Categories: Filter Replacement | 
Tags: Berkey, Black | 
5 Comments »
Purchased this product to replace PUR faucet filter and the weekly trips lugging home bottled water. The berkey does just what it is advertised to do – filters the water. We have very hard water that is full of chlorine and minerals. The berkey leaves us with clean natural tasting water. It leaves the minerals in but removes all the chemicals and bacteria left in by our municipal water company. The taste and water quality that we get from the berkey is very very good.
Our family of 4 now drinks more water because it “tastes good” and the water we get from the berkey satisfies our thirst. The berkey does not produce “reverse osmosis” clean water – but – it does not waste 2 gallons of water for each gallon it produces. Our family is very satisfied with the berkey and we are glad we purchased it.
What we learned so far in using the berkey – keep it close to the sink – you will be filling it up everyday because everyone will be drinking more water. Get in a routine to check the water level first thing in the morning and last thing at night. That way you can fill it up when needed. We have a sink sprayer so we just grab the sprayer hose – lift the top and fill ‘er up when needed. The daily amount of water produced by this model of berkey is quite adequate for our family’s needs (drinking, coffee, tea, cooking). One thing I noticed is that there appear to be two types of water spigots for the berkey – one that has a handle that turns right to left and another type of spigot that pulls down from the top. We have the spigot with the handle that turns from right to left. I wonder if the other spigot might be a better choice to get and use.
Good product – I would highly recommend as a simple, elegant solution for getting high quality drinking water.
Rating: 4 / 5
We read all these spectacular reviews about this product, so purchased the Big Berkey with two Black Berkey filters for $250. It is a hansom system. We followed the instructions for setting it up to the letter. We measured the water from the tap and it read 324 on our electronic meter. The first cycle reading from the Big Berkey was 920, the second cycle the water read 674, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cycles the reading leveled out at 206. So it increased purity by only 1/3. We compared that to bottled distilled water which read 000, absolutely pure! We also compared it to our tap water filtered through the Britta filter system, which came in around 035, and the Zero water filter which, as its name implies, read 000; again, absolutely pure. Now the really bad news, the return. Understandably they won’t take the Black Berkey filters back, who would want something that doesn’t work? So that’s $99, and they also deduct 15% for a restocking fee, so of the $250 purchase price, we get $128 back. So all the hype and advertising doesn’t measure up. If it says it purifies water, it should do what it says, and the numbers just aren’t there. I think another important note is that the Big Berkey cannot be sold in California, and as I learned from another negative review, it is because it doesn’t measure up to their purity standards. Well, it doesn’t measure up to ours either, so if I have to take a 50% loss, so be it. Learn from our mistake.
Rating: 1 / 5
Spigot leaked. Called company that sent the Berkey. Was sent a new spigot (which did not fit my Berkey) along with several washers. Spigot still leaked with new washers. Had nothing to lose so tried using just one washer instead of one inside and one outside. Works like a charm. Appreciated how company worked with me to resolve issue. I am very satisfied, especially now that I have the filters to remove fluoride (which company explained how to install).
Rating: 5 / 5
This is the best item I have bought. The water in our area smells of chlorine and is not always rated the best. People around me all have spring water deliveries and I didn’t want that extra monthly bill. Buying bottled water in the supermarket really seemed like a true waste of money since it’s treated water for the most part. I did a lot of research before I chose the Berkey and I’m glad I did. This unit is the best! I fill it with tap water and I get pure crisp water for drinking and cooking. See demos on U-TUBE. My tea and coffee taste so much better, I was amazed at the difference. No more need to stock bottled water for emergencies (hurricanes etc). It will pay for itself in 5 months and then it’s FREE sailing.
Rating: 5 / 5
I purchased the Big Berkey a few months ago. Although I found it a bit awkward to use in the beginning, I now I find to operate and work “like a charm”. Technical support is wonderful and it’s nice to have fresh clean water available at all times. I bought a water crock stand (oak) to support by Big Berkey so it does not have to rest at the edge of my kitchen countertop. MY BIG ISSUE? Has anyone performed any water tests on the Berkey filtered “before” and “after”????? I would like facts not just testimonials. I have performed the “red food coloring dye” test but I would like to know EXCACTLY the percentages of the contaminats “before” and “after”.
Rating: 4 / 5