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Featured Post: A Review of the British Berkefeld Water Filtration System

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This article appeared on The Survivalist Blog and we are happy to have another satisfied customer. Jason in Virginia wrote this article. 

I recently purchased and received a British Berkefeld Water FIltration System, and here is a general run down on my thoughts and experiences with it thus far.

Pre-Purchase and Purchase

I did quite a bit of research on water filtration systems prior to purchase. Water had been a continuous source of concern, a hole in my preps, if you will, for some time. I had 10 packs of 24 count bottled water stored and rotated, but I knew that was woefully inadequate for any extended SHTF scenario.

It seemed a cruel irony, considering that 75 yards from my front door is a canal, but I wouldn’t consider that potable water by any means. I had to have a means of securing drinking water that wouldn’t take up too much space.

The Berkey turned out to be the perfect solution. It’s reliability is well-known, its reputation is strong, its results unquestioned. Unfortunately, for me, its price tag was also prohibitive. Every where I checked the units were, minimum $225.00. You know how many bullets and instant mashed potatoes I can buy for $225.00???? I was discouraged.

Alas, sometimes what we are looking for is right under our nose. One Saturday afternoon, while conduction my daily visit to thesurvivalistblog.net on my smart phone, I noticed an ad in the lower right corner. LPC Survival. Hmph, never heard of them. 1 click later, and lo and behold, I am staring at the British Berkefeld Water Filtration Filter. A quick glance at the price has my eyes about shoot from there sockets. $184.99, free shipping.

Being the natural sceptic that I am, I called the 800 number. It was picked up on the second ring by a person, not an automated system. Awesome. I asked Jeff (the Berkey Guy, you should give him a call) a few questions about the differences in the Berkey Black filters and the Ceramic filters, just as friendly and as personable as if I were talking to him over a ball game in the local bar. He was straightforward and honest, asked what my concerns were, and pointed me to the British Berkefeld. It’s just my wife and I, my concerns aren’t heavy metals, get the 2 ceramic filters model, he says. You can always upgrade filters later if you decide. Done Deal.

Receipt and Installation:

Shipping was reasonable fast, and certainly a value for free. I received an e-mail the Monday after ordering thanking me for my order, and saying I would receive it in 5-7 business days. It arrived in 4 business days. Can’t beat that. Installation is a snap. Simply wash down the filters and prime them.

You do this by running water through them directly from the tap to ensure that they do not get air-locked. Then run the stem of the filters through the holes in the upper chamber, making sure the rubber washer is seated properly. Secure it with the wingnut on the other side. Then install the spigot using the other two included rubber washers in the bottom chambers. Pour your 2.5 gallons of water in the upper chamber and let the party start. It really is Obama Proof.

Sidenote: Be sure to follow the enclosed instructions on disposing of your first 2.5 gallons of filtered water to condition the filters.

Results:

I tried it with my local tap water, which I NEVER drink. It has a terrible metallic taste, but the tap water filtered through the Berkey was crisp and delicious. Better than bottled water, in my opinion. Then I tried it in the local canal water, and, though I noticed the filtration process took a little longer, the water was also excellent (yes, I was scared when I took my first sip). So I highly recommend a Berkey water filter to everyone. It’s portable, and effective.

It’s definitely a more expensive prep item, and it doesn’t have a trigger or go bang (I too was disappointed when I saw this shortcoming), but not every expensive prep can be as sexy as that new Taurus Mill Pro .45…

13 Responses to Featured Post: A Review of the British Berkefeld Water Filtration System

  1. Carrie September 11, 2012 at 2:20 pm #

    Love, love, love this review. I’d really like to get a Berkey too, but the cost is a bit steep for our family right now. Leaving a comment here to hopefully win one from Keeper of the Home!

  2. Ken Rosenberg September 11, 2012 at 5:29 pm #

    This looks like a great system, and clean water is most important for my family and myself. That’s why I’d love to win one from Keeper of the Home!

  3. Elizabeth September 11, 2012 at 5:59 pm #

    This is a great review. I am still trying to save up for a Berkey.

  4. Sheila September 11, 2012 at 6:10 pm #

    I would love to be able to win one of these systems have been looking at them for quite sometime now but until my husband gets a better job we just can’t afford it right now. Our local water company does not run lines out here and our well water is so bad that I buy bottled water for drinking.

  5. brian September 11, 2012 at 8:57 pm #

    I would love to win one because the local water source contains fluoride and I don not want to ingest it anymore. I especially do NOT want my wife and son drinking it either. I look forward to adding the fluoride filters 🙂
    You guys have a great product, I’ve seen one in action and am now hoping to win one, simply amazing!

  6. Rebekah Hall September 11, 2012 at 9:11 pm #

    I would love a Berkey system for my family, we are saving our pennies and hope to be able to afford one by spring. A friend of ours has had a Berkey system for about 10 years it is amazing, their water comes from a well and is very hard, but once it comes through their Berkey it becomes the best tasting water I have ever had. They always use filtered water for cooking, coffee, and tea, We have city water and can always smell and taste the chlorine so I always make sure to drink my fill when we visit them.

  7. Sue September 12, 2012 at 1:48 am #

    Am a daycare provider and would truly love a Berkey for the sake of everyone in our household.

  8. Cindy Goforth September 12, 2012 at 6:17 am #

    This would be great in our home. We have spring water, but it’s not a deep underground spring. It gets cloudy when we get much rain. Living in a rural community with a lot of agriculture we worry a lot about chemical contamination. We filter all the water coming into the house to keep clear running water, but buy bottled water for drinking and cooking with. A system like this would be an awesome addition for our large family.

  9. jason wilson September 12, 2012 at 6:53 am #

    Would love to try one of these for our city water, its bad. It never hurts to be ready for anything.

  10. Michelle September 12, 2012 at 7:47 am #

    I would love to have one of these filters, I have heard they are the best!

  11. james September 12, 2012 at 5:38 pm #

    I would love to win a Berkey System! City water always tastes like bleach to me.

  12. Nicolette September 13, 2012 at 8:32 am #

    I would love to win a Berkey system for my grandmother who has to live in town drinking horrible city water. I bring my own water to drink when visiting her but all of our food there is cooked in this nasty water! I don’t want my children growing up drinking and eating this from her water system.

    • David September 17, 2012 at 12:26 pm #

      We wish you the best of luck, Nicolette!

      -David

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