The need for a reliable source of pure drinking water in the home is stronger than ever, particularly with recent scares regarding the presence of contaminants in the water such as Chromium-VI, a carcinogen. If you are going to place a water purifier in the kitchen it may as well be one that is going to look good as well as perform well.

There are many different types of water purifiers that remove contaminants and the Berkey water filter system is one of the best. It is such a powerful water filter system that it is classed as a water purifier and it is available in a range of sizes from the huge Imperial Berkey down to the more portable water filters that can be moved as needed.

Pictured below is a Berkey Light water filter with two Black Berkey filters fitted.

The Berkey water filter may be used to filter a normal household water supply or it can also be set up to filter a more contaminated water supply such as water from a lake, river or well. It doesn’t cost a lot to run and the Black Berkey replacement cartridge is cleanable and long lasting to ensure that you have clean drinking water for long periods of time before replacements are required.

As mentioned, the filtration unit used in the Berkey water filter systems is known as the Black Berkey. This is a filtration system that is extremely comprehensive and has gone through extensive testing by independent EPA approved laboratories where it has been shown to be effective in removing an amazingly long list of water contaminants. For peace of mind it appears that if you are using a Black Berkey water filter you will be removing as close to one hundred per cent of the pathogens in the water as it is possible to get.

The Berkey water filter units are available as large stainless steel units that would look perfectly suited sitting in the modern kitchen. They are available in 5 sizes with the stainless steel finish and there is also a light weight clear plastic unit available too.

Here is a quick rundown of the 5 Berkey stainless steel water filter systems.

Travel Berkey – this has a 1.5 gallon water storage capacity and is designed to cater for small families when they need water while travelling or at an outdoor event. The unit is 7.5 inches in diameter and stands 18” tall. When it is empty it only weight 6lbs. It is capable of producing 2.75 gallons of drinking water per hour.

Big Berkey – this has a 2.1 gallon water storage capacity and is designed for home use for larger families of up to 8 or more. The unit is 8.5 inches in diameter and stands 20” tall, although that can be reduced to 15.5” tall when it is being transported. When it is empty it weight 7lbs and it is capable of producing 3.5 gallons of filtered drinking water per hour with 2 filter or 7 gallons per hour with 4 filters.

Royal Berkey – this has a 3 gallon water storage capacity and is designed for home use for larger families of up to 13 or more. The unit is 9.5 inches in diameter and stands 23” tall, although that can be reduced to 15.5” tall when it is being transported. When it is empty it weight 8lbs and it is capable of producing 4 gallons of filtered drinking water per hour with 2 filters or 8 gallons per hour with 4 filters.

Imperial Berkey – this has a 4.5 gallon water storage capacity and is designed for use when large groups get together such as offices, hospitals, churches etc, catering for 25 – 75 people. The unit is 10 inches in diameter and stands 26” tall, although that can be reduced to 17” tall when it is being transported. When it is empty it weight 10lbs and it is capable of producing 5.5 gallons of filtered drinking water per hour with 2 filters or 11 gallons per hour with 4 filters.

Imperial Berkey – this is the largest purifier in the range and has a 6 gallon water storage capacity. It is designed for use for very large groups such as in offices, hospitals, churches, fetes, etc catering for crowds of 40 – 150 people. The unit is 11 inches in diameter and stands 30” tall, although that can be reduced to 20” tall when it is being transported. When it is empty it weight 12lbs and it is capable of producing 6.5 gallons of filtered drinking water per hour with 2 filters, 13 gallons per hour with 4 filters, 19.5 gallons per hour with 6 filters and 26 gallons of water with 8 filters.

Berkey Light – this is a light weight and portable water filter system that is perfect for large families or small get-togethers. It will cater for up to around 9 people and can be taken with you when you go on a family or group outing. It has a 2.5 gallon storage capacity and is 9 inches in diameter, standing 28” tall. It weighs 7lbs when it is empty and is capable of producing up to 3.75 gallons of purified drinking water per hour.

Find out more about Berkey water filter systems by visiting the Berkey Filter website.