Cleaning the Waters of Information

Recently, I read an article on a blogger’s site that mentioned the Berkey® Water Purification and Seychelle® filtration systems, as well as another filtration system. Some points in that article that need clarification, especially since such generalities as stated in that article are lacking in reason and practicality. It is vital for individuals to offer information that is clear and practical, especially to the communities whose interests we share. When critics publicly address the Berkey®  Systems, it is only fair to respond in a similar fashion. We hold a vested interest in providing correct information, especially when implications murky the water, directly/indirectly. The bullet points are direct quotes from the article. Our responses follow the bullet points.

• Having an abundance of water available for future challenges is meaningless without having reliable methods of water filtration for any of that water you’d use…

Personally, I have quite a bit of emergency water on-hand and this statement is a generality that is simply untrue. Having lots of water is not meaningless. Even if you only had pool water available (which should not be used for drinking water), that amount of water is absolutely useful and valuable for other applications such as washing clothes, dishes, rinsing surfaces, etc.

I store my drinking water in 55 gallon containers that are unused. I purchased them new from a wholesaler who buys directly from the manufacturer, Contico. Although I pre-treat the stored water, I know that the water will be safe to drink even if I am unable to use my Berkey® systems to optimize the water.

• Test results need to identify the initial baseline of invaders before its results can be relied on.

Let’s address bacteria as the author makes specific reference to this in her example. A common misconception held by many individuals is that all bacteria are “bad”. Pathogenic (illness-causing) bacteria and microorganisms are the “invaders” that you want to avoid in your water, food, and simple day-to-day living. The presence of coliform bacteria in your water source is not a fail-safe indicator of pathogens.

Routine testing methods emphasize the testing for indicator rather than pathogenic microbes. In fact, lab testing generally relies on the presence of indicator organisms (organisms whose presence might indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria as well) to suggest the presence of pathogens. Even so, if the counts of indicator organisms are low, that indicates a low to non-present likelihood of disease-causing bacteria in the sample. By the way, bacteria are usually on the scale of millions and not hundreds.

The author then references her experience with a Berkey® representative and states that he kept referring to the red food coloring test. The manufacturer New Millennium Concepts, Ltd., specifically uses the red food coloring test because of the unique ability of their systems to remove the red color from the water, whereas no other system that compares itself directly with the Berkey® is able to do the same. The red food coloring also assists users to determine whether their Black Berkey® Elements are functioning properly or need replacement.

Berkey® Water Purification Systems have been a well-known brand within this category for more than a decade and have used the term “non-detectable levels” since their start. Lab data has been referenced by the manufacturer for many years now, although many newcomers are just now becoming informed.

• Avoid any water filtration unit which uses the term “up to” as a part of its marketing and technology content.

Again, an inaccurate reference is made here. Berkey® Systems make specific mention to “pathogenic bacteria, cysts, and parasites” and do so specifically: >99.9999%. The bundling of the Berkey® Systems in with statements of other manufacturers is inaccurate, misrepresentative, and misleading. And for those who have suffered a “miserable recovery from a digestive illness,” please research Louis Pasteur’s words in context to your illness: “Bernard avait raison. Le germ n’est rien, c’est le terrain qui est tout.” Translation from French: “Bernard was correct. The germ is nothing; the terrain is everything.”

• The filtration and treatment tests must take into consideration the SIZE of the invaders they are attempting to eliminate.

Personally, I like New Millennium’s statement (link paragraph titled “What is the Micron Rating of the Black Berkey^® purification elements?”) on this particular point, made a few years ago:

With respect to the micron rating, we do not use or publish a micron rating for the Black Berkey^® elements for the following reasons:

There is much confusion with respect to nominal and absolute micron ratings. An absolute micron rating is one that states the maximum pore size expected within an element.  The nominal micron rating is the average pore size within the element. This means that if 90% of the pores are .02 microns and ten percent are 2.0 microns, one could claim the nominal micron rating as 0.2 microns, which would imply that pathogenic bacteria and parasites would be totally removed.  But in reality the bulk of the water would channel through the larger 2-micron pores and thereby allow both bacteria and parasites to pass through. Therefore a nominal micron-rating claim can be very misleading.

With respect to the absolute micron rating, there is also confusion because there are two different standards to determine absolute; in the US the standard is 99.9% removal, but the international standard in 99.99% removal or 10 times greater removal.

Clever marketers of products can use the confusion over the above differences to make product “A” appear to be better than product “B” when product B may be far superior in reality. For example, we used to report an absolute rating using the international standard because we have a large international customer base.  Several years ago we published a rating on our ceramic filters.  A particular company began to publish that our elements were .9 microns whereas theirs were .2 microns. However, our micron rating was based on absolute (international) while theirs was based on a nominal (US) rating.  When tested at Spectrum Labs, it was found that at the 0.2 to 0.3 microns range our filter removed more particulate than the other brand. Unfortunately, many people make their purchasing decisions based on a micron rating that can be legitimately distorted and to a significant degree.

We soon became weary of trying to explain the above to our customers and so we decided not to participate any longer in publishing a micron rating.  Rather, we think an absolute pathogenic bacteria removal rate is a far better gauge because it is far more difficult to abuse.  Based on that criterion, the Black Berkey^® elements remove greater than 99.9999999% of pathogenic bacteria such as E.coli. To our knowledge, no other personal filtration element can match that capability. In fact, the Black Berkey^® elements are so powerful, they are unique in their ability to mechanically remove red food coloring from water.

• Sure it cleans the water, but how long do I have to wait?! It’s all about the contact time.

It is no revelation that contact time is one of the key operating principles behind the success of the Black Berkey® Purification Elements! Of course, the proprietary media which is impregnated into the coconut-shell carbon of the Black Elements is also at work in addressing the contaminants, as well as the amount of carbon used in the elements themselves.

We’re definitely looking forward to reading the second part of that author’s post.

-TBG

East Baltimore, Maryland: Three Days without Water

Hundreds of residents in the eastern part of Baltimore had to handle three days without water. After what seemed to be fixed, crews had to return to make repairs because water pressure would drop almost immediately after faucets were opened.

The leak was apparently due to old, brittle  pipes that have remained unchanged for many years. Deposits and aging have left the infrastructure weak and vulnerable to damages like cracks. The remedy was to attach a coupling over the compromised area, but only after workers could grind down that section of piping.

While water service was unavailable, residents were able to pick up water at two street locations in rations. After three days of the interruption, service crews were finally able to locate the leak and repair it. Officials informed the public that once they turned their faucets on, they would have to allow the water to run until it lost its dark and cloudy appearance, appearing clear and clean.

reporting credit: Baltimore Sun Online

Floridians Still Dealing with Toxic Algae

Similer Toxic Algae was found in Northern California.

Apparently, clean drinking water is not as readily available as many assume. You know, we regularly receive orders and phone calls from Florida residents because their water is less than desirable. The image to the left is an example of toxic algae that was found in the water at the Iron Gate Reservoir, about 5 miles south of the Oregon-California border.

If you get a chance, please read the article posted today an attorney at Earthjustice. The original article can be found here: Nauseating Toxica Algae Outbreak a Grim Reminder.

It might surprise many Americans to know that even within our great nation clean water is not enjoyed by all, even within established cities and towns. It is very, very disappointing. It is readily assumed that all the taxes that we pay would naturally support infrastructure to secure WATER!

So, aside from the fact that a Berkey System would come in handy here, we all have a vested interest to be informed of our local water supplies and the quality of the water they produce for our consumption. I am not suggesting that you need to become a regular at town/city hall meetings, but what would it hurt to get involved?

Seriously, one of the biggest motivating factors to change comes from us: regular tax-paying citizens who won’t accept sub-par performance from elected officials and public service providers. Our political persuasions do not matter. Our views on the 2nd amendment don’t come into play when we-as communities-collaborate to ensure we have clean, readily-accessible water from our water utilities.

Please do your part. For yourself. For the Future.

-The Berkey Guy

Bullets and Beans: Consideration of Priority & Being Practical

Facts & motives are powerful catalysts to action and must be weighted in moderation.

Over the years, customers call in and ask some interesting questions. An infrequent question recently surfaced when I had a conversation with an individual who decided to pick my brain about almost all-things-preparation. To paraphrase her question, she asked, “I have a 72 hour kit and because I live in [in a densely populated U.S. metropolis] I think I really need a gun…what do you recommend?” Here are some of our thoughts with respect to setting priority in steps toward greater self-reliance. My recommendations can be summed up in one word: Practicality.

It is too easy to get side-tracked in our preps when there are so many areas that seem appealing and meritorious of highest priority status. Newbies and old-timers alike can easily find themselves concentrating in many areas of detail such as:

• Should I raise a Barnevelder or Brahma variety of chickens?
• Should I start off with a handgun, rifle, or shotgun?
• What are the criteria I should employ in choosing a brand of colloidal silver?

To avoid this analysis-paralysis one must remain focused and concentrate on building the basics. There is the idea of utilitarianism which essentially declares: do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. In the particular case of the individual I spoke with, what was most practical for her and that which would accomplish the greatest good was working on her food and water storages. She, like many, was lacking in her practical preps. In her mind, she was most concerned about the first 72 hours post-incident. She anticipated that those 72 hours might require the use of a firearm for protection from looters and vandals. Indeed, I don’t discredit the manifest potential of her scenario, but ultimately, bullets aren’t beans. In other words, hydration, energy, & nutrition are life-sustaining priorities that will provide the stability and foundation, upon which she can progress to personal/group safety considerations.

I know an individual who is intent upon improving his marksmanship in close-quarter combat as well as “reaching out to touch someone.” No problem. Range time is fun. However,he has no medical preparations, horrible social skills, and lives in a crowded apartment building. For him, one practical need is to become more sociable and learn to interact with others, so he can create & strengthen his support network. The support network is the second-point of emphasis that I shared with my friend during our conversation. It is completely do-able and necessary for individuals to strengthen ties & relationships with trusted & like-minded individuals whose interests are shared. While you are building your supplies and hardware inventories and learning self-reliant skills, specialization in interpersonal communication and conflict resolution/negotiations is an ability that is priceless. It can be learned and improved upon no matter your degree of experience and comfort level. Individuals who develop these skills are able to understand human behavior much better and are in a powerful position to act appropriately with/without weapons training & availability.

Beans represent food.

In the interest of time & to keep this post short, I offer this summary. Bullets (security measures) prove valuable in hunting, defense, and offense. Beans (food) sustain life and are the fuel to simple survival and being able to weather the storm during a sustained power outage. Get your beans & then your bullets, or get them both together.

-The Berkey Guy

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Water Purification Systems

It seems natural disasters are commanding the headlines more and more these days, and one message comes through loud and clear: it is critical for your family’s safety and well being that you are prepared in the event of flood, fire, earthquake, or any of the other challenges Mother Nature likes to throw our way.  While the importance of clean water is generally understood, many people don’t realize how hard it can be to get access to potable water in the wake of a disaster.  Water purification systems such as those from Directive21 can provide a source of clean, safe drinking water, even when water pressure and electricity are not available.

To be effective in an emergency, a water purification system should be compact, rugged, and easy to use.  A system meant for emergency use should be scaled according to your needs – one that can provide enough drinking water for your entire family is important.  At Directive21.com, we have water purification systems with 2 and 4 elements.  A 2 element system can process over 4 gallons of water per hour, providing clean safe water for everyone in your household.

Berkey Light™ Purification for your Well Water

Many people contact us and ask us if the Berkey water purification systems are strong enough to purify water from their wells? One customer from Florida provides that answer herself, check it out:

Hi Jeff,

We have iron-y and sulphur-y well water and I am filtering it with the Berkey. It is pretty ‘dirty’… What do you think?

OMG [my Berkey Light makes] a WOLRD of difference. Before it tastes like iron or sulphurish and after, it is just…pure, clean, crisp,…My mom HATES water, always has, but she loves this and is glad I got it for her.

(I want to cover up the top part, people freak when they see it, lolol).

Thanks! LOVE IT!

D.B. from Florida

Here are the photos-of her Berkey Light™ in action- that she has graciously provided...

Also of note, Providence, Rhode Island will be experiencing some challenges with its public water supply this summer because of old water lines. The effluent water  from the lines will be discolored due to iron and sediment. Cloudiness of the water is known as turbidity. Things are really telling when public water utilities give you a “heads up” of what’s to come. Read the original article here.

The Sport Berkey: Portable Water Purification System

The Sport Berkey water bottle is the ultimate in personal water purification systems. Unlike the other Berkey water purification systems
which are gravity-fed, the Sport Berkey provides on-demand purification. In other words, as you suck water from the straw, or simply squeeze the sides of the bottle, water is forced through its miniature Black Berkey Element as it is purified. No need to tilt the bottle at all! The bottle is made from BPA-free plastic and holds 22 ounces of water.

The Sport Berkey’s Black Berkey Element is replaceable and has been rated at approximately 640 refills tap-water. The Sport Berkey Replacement Element is affordable, easy-to-replace, and practical. Never waste any more money on bottled water!

If you find yourself using fresh-water from a questionable source of turbid water, such as a lake, murky/stagnant pond, stream with high-sediment, or other source with questionable quality, the Sport Berkey is the perfect solution for your day-pack or long-term equipment. Check out this video by our good friend Sootch00.