We have a Berky at the shop and it takes that oil right out of the water..but it also makes the water dry. Does anyone else have this? It's like you drink a glass and need another one right away and it never quenches the thirst. I'm curious tto know if there are minerals that can be put back in the water or should I take some of my goats Purina loose minerals and drop a few in to help this problem?

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), February 11, 2002

Answers

We have a Big Berky and we love it. Please explain the problem again? I don't get it?

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), February 12, 2002.

"dry" water,, hmmmm,,,

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 12, 2002.

It doesn't quench thirst. It is like drinking two gallons of water and you still have dry mouth. I think it takes everything out of the water and that is the trouble. Minerals and salts are inportant to the dispersion of water in your body....I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe it's just because there is soooo much garbage in the water here. Dunno. But I'm thirsty....

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), February 12, 2002.

how about adding something to eat before drinking,,lemonade,, ice tea,, fruit juice,, ,, ect Does it taste "stale"? if so,, try pouring it between 2 glasses,, so you get air back into it,, then try it

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 12, 2002.

I know what you are saying, Doreen. We have spring water and for the first time in our lives we feel like we are drinking "live" water. To me, the water your describing is "dead". You're right, the good along with the bad has been filtered out. I have no idea how to remedy the problem though. Stan's last suggestion might help some. Does the filter manufactor have any suggestions?

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), February 12, 2002.

Doreen, are you sure the Big Berkey is filtering out the minerals. You are right in saying we need the minerals. Distilled water to me sort of has that "dry" taste too and it definitely gets rid of the minerals. For several years we used a distiller until I read several places that it leaches the minerals from your bones. I had been considering a Big Berkey but if it does filter out all the minerals, I don't think I want one! Of course, we do get minerals from the food we eat but I'm not sure if that is enough.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@lyahoo.com), February 12, 2002.

There are several theories on filtration, hydration, distillation, as well as magnetizing, alkalizing, and ionizing water. I have found Dr. Sang Wang's book "Reverse Aging" to be the most helpful source of information on this subject. The book is available through Amazon and other booksellers.

There are calcium tablets as well as alkaline mineral drops available for replacing mineral lost through filtering or distillation. But pouring the water back and forth to aerate it is also a very good idea; water run through a good filter is flatter than a dead cat.

-- Rags (RaggedReb@aol.com), February 12, 2002.

Doreen, I am not familiar with the Berkeley filter, but can tell you that you can't filter minerals out of water. You can filter bacteria, sediment, bugs, leaves, etc. But not minerals, and not virus. So your water must be dry for some other reason than minerals. (did you leave it in the sun too long?

-- joj (jump@off.c), February 12, 2002.

This system filters down to 1 micron if I remember correctly. The water here in town is abominable, it literally has a taste of oil to it unfiltered. We're going to try the aerating with it. It's inside the shop so sun isn't a factor. I really don't know whether the minerals are removed, just that it doesn't quench the thirst. Thanks for the ideas everyone!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), February 12, 2002.

All the above makes me grateful for what comes out of my well! Thirst quenching.

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), February 12, 2002.

Doreen, Ceramic filters do not remove the minerals from your water. British Berkefeld filters are designed to remove bacteria and organic chemicals like chlorine, herbicides and pesticides from your water. Unlike distilling water British Berkefelds "big Berkey" uses a ceramic filter with a pore structure so small that bacteria cannot pass through. Minerals are water soluable and cannot be filtered out.

-- Todd Emerson (toddemerson@earthlink.net), April 24, 2002.

the aerating of the water is quite helpful. it really does make you more thirsty if you drink it without pouring it back and forth.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), April 24, 2002.

Check the pH of the water. If the water is "too hard" it can be a problem. And what ever the minerals are in the water, again reflecting back on the hardness, can be detrimental. You will find that water hard with lime (aka calcium or CaCO3) can also hold a number of "alkaloid metals" such as cadmium, pottasium, selenium, calcium, sodium and I'm sure there may be a few I missed. Also, gypsum in the water can make it taste like what you describe.

Best bet is to take a sample to the health department (and lie when they ask where you got it from) and they should be able to test it. If that isn't an option consider taking it to the local college and try that. The professor may know what the story is with the water.

-- Carl Kem (coalbunny@vcn.com), July 28, 2002.

Doreen, What you describe is a condition that the Berky wasn't made for. You need to take a sample to a lab to have it tested. I would expect to see benzene or other similar chemicals in your water.

-- Tom (akfrontierpapa@yahoo.com), April 03, 2004.