British Berekfeld water filters

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Does anyone have first hand experience with British Berkefeld water filters? I have the opportunity to buy the big size Berkefeld to purify water for 18 people next year, and would enjoy hearing any info, pro or con, about that product.

-- Prometheus (fire@for.man), September 08, 1999

Answers

Hello -

I have purchased the Berkey and am thrilled with it. I haven't tried filtering river water yet, but our local water is very smelly right now due to algae in the lake from high temperatures. The Berkey makes it sweet and odourless!

I have heard nothing but good about these - in fact I have heard they are the best. I feel much better having mine and in fact I'm thinking about ordering more filters for it.

Good luck.

-- citygirl (citygirl@idirect.com), September 08, 1999.


We have a Katadyn with the ceramic filters and the water doesn't taste that great. I am about to buy a carbon filter and do a second filtering. What is different about the Berkleys??

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

i've owned a berkefield for 6 months. they are excellent. we recently moved to a new home where the taste/smell of the water, because of all the new pipes, plastics, etc, was awful. one pass thru the berkey, and it tasted great.

the best investment you can make.

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), September 08, 1999.


I learned this from Gary North's postings. Instead of buying the expensive Big Berkey (approx. $300.00) water filter, get one of the replacement elements for it. This will run $30.00 to $40.00, depending on who you buy from. Drill a hole in the bottom of a clean container, and install the filter inside, and then fill that container. Then, put another container underneath the first one to let the filtering water drip into. I used tupperwares and so-forth from Walmart, and got the whole set-up for a total of around forty- something dollars. My water is Berkey clean for a paltry fraction of the price of a Berkey.

DO store up that water from the water system. Even though it is true that stored county or city water is not too good to keep past a certain amount of time, wouldn't you rather pour THAT through your filter than creek water if at all possible?

Sorry to make the purchasers of the full monty feel jyped, but I got an expensive Katydine first, and it does OK. This, though, is the ultimate, and for so little money.

-- Dooda (gottasayit@cheapo.com), September 08, 1999.


We started using our Berky a month ago. Had to clean out with some vinegar, some sort of black finishing goo inside. Couldn't see it but could feel it. After thoroughly cleaning and running several gallons through and throwing out. It was wonderful! Water tastes great, and no odors.

I bought 8 ceramic filters. Mine uses 2 at a time. The others are for long term and to help family. I went to http://www.pwgazette/gravity.htm (I am not positive about the URL) and bought the siphon that attaches to the filters. You can then use any 2 buckets, one high with the filter in it and one low with the tube going to it and get the same great water. These were more affordable, about $6.50 for the siphon and filters were 4 for $100.00. That way I can have them for my DGI family that I love enough to prepare for.

Berkeys are great, creates a great sense of safety. I also purchased aquarium activated charcoal to work on viruses for any 'ugly' water we may need to use.

Just keepin' on, keepin' on ;->

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 08, 1999.



Dooda,

Great idea! This is what I'm going to try. I went searching for the link at Gary's, so for anyone who would like to read it.....

here it is.
Thanks!

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.

This forum is great! Thank you all so much for your suggestions and advice. The Berkefeld sounds like a good product. Maybe I'll order some extra filters, too.

-- Prometheus (fire@for.man), September 09, 1999.

Those little camp filters are nice, but with the Berkey you can fill it and walk away. Our condo complex has about 5,000 gallons in ponds, (7500 if we have warning and can top off the pools) and we plan to filter 25-30 gallons a day, round the clock, for the residents here if TSHTF. If we can get one other family to make the same investment, we'll be in pretty good shape (including stored water).

If you're filtering for 18, the Berkey is a great device!

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 09, 1999.


Sammie,

Charcoal will NOT handle virus. You will have to use chlorine for that. Charcoal just makes water taste better.

We have nitrates in our well water and are working on a filtering system to remove those as well. If you live in farm country, this is a real concern - especially for the babies. Our cistern water is fine and can be double filtered and treated for drinking.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.


Charcoal will not kill viruses; it will eliminate lead, other heavy metals, and chlorine.

-- Shelia (Shelia@active-stream.com), September 09, 1999.


Berky is the best none come close,bought mine from www.safe-water.com excellent service.They gave me one free cause they misplaced my order.You can now get PVC berkey sells for 159$.

-- Ponzi (Satisfied@water.com), September 10, 1999.

I just found this through a local paper...have not done much comparison shopping, but thought someone might like to see this.

British Berkefeld SS 4X4 Special through September 30, 1999 #BB-100 $224.95 PLUS $7.50 Shipping per unit

OR CALL (509) 276-1208

OUTDOOR GEAR PLUS 23 N. WEBER RD., SUITE C-4 DEER PARK, WA 99006 OFFICE (509) 276-1208 ORDERS ONLY TOLL FREE 1-888-405-1900 FAX (509) 276-1347 HOURS: 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

http://www.outdoorgearplus.com/

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 10, 1999.


Beckie and Shiela - Thanks for the 'heads up' on killing virus'

I just hate those little critters - I'll stomp on them all I can with everything available. I do live in farm country so want to be as careful as I can with water. Thanks again!

Just keepin' on, keepin' on

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 10, 1999.


Just received my Berkey, on the box flap it says to _replace the element at LEAST every six months_ - is this really necessary? what happens if you don't? thanks in advance,

steve

-- steve (forscutt@inreach.com), September 11, 1999.


I got my filter system for way less than 100 bucks from Pure Water Co. out of Denton Texas. I got a model 77 unit it hooks onto the sink, and can be used as a siphon unit in case we don't have any water pressure, or fixed like the Gary North deal above. I really like my unit. It uses the super sterasyl filters (the best) and filters out bacteria, and makes the water taste great. We'll be buying the system to remove iron from our well water later this year.....

I don't work for them, just a happy customer.

-- (nobody@nowhere.com), September 12, 1999.



check it out: www.pwgazette.com and see the product line. My filter unit is supposed to be good for 1 year. If you need to filter for taste, I know the charcoal filter part doesn't last very long..... and needs replacing quite often. Also, on those berkeys, you don't get to just replace 1 filter candle (like me), you get to replace four of them! Yikes!

-- (nobody@nowhere.com), September 12, 1999.

Save yourself hundreds of dollars and visit www.pwgazette.com. I bought some filter set-ups from them and I am thrilled with them. They give you complete instructions and all the parts you need (except the containers) to build a homemade Berkefeld.

I have no association with the company, just a satisfied customer.

-- semper paratus (think@water.first), September 12, 1999.


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