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

Featured Nurse Amy Post: Garlic As An Antibiotic

The following article was written by Nurse Amy of DoomandBloom.net. It’s a great article on garlic. Enjoy!:

In a collapse situation, it stands to reason that we may find ourselves without pharmaceutical medications. Pharmaceutical manufacture is a complex process involving a lot of chemicals (just see Dr. Bones articles on how to make Penicillin or the formula for Insulin if you don’t believe me).  Therefore, certain medical issues, which had relied upon these drugs, will require some form of natural treatment.

Garlic is an amazing natural medicine. It is known to be antibacterial, anti-fungal, and an immune stimulant. Garlic remedies (at least the best ones) use fresh crushed organic cloves. Used in a tea or mixed with raw, unprocessed honey, garlic has been associated with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and even regulating blood sugar levels.

Bacteria exposed to garlic remedies have been proven NOT to produce resistant “super-bug” strains. Antibiotic resistant organisms are becoming more and more prevalent, due to big agri-business indiscriminately using over 80% of antibiotics used today. For new or mild infections, it may be a better choice to try a natural remedy.

Garlic is versatile:For internal bacterial or fungal infections, or for respiratory congestion ( to decrease tissue inflammation) use a garlic tea, or a honey garlic syrup.For prevention or treatment of external wound infections, use:  cool compresses of garlic tea ( without the lemon juice); or honey garlic syrup or garlic oil, in place of a triple antibiotic ointment. Cover the wound or laceration with sterile gauze or dressing, after applying the syrup or oil. Change the covering and reapply the garlic syrup or oil once or twice daily.

Vaginal yeast infections may be cured by using a single peeled clove of garlic wrapped in a gauze and placed inside of the vagina for 8-12 hours. Remove the gauze and garlic, then place a new gauze wrapped garlic. Repeat this for 2 days. Vaginal itching can be treated with either a moist cool compress with lavender and/or tea tree essential oil added, or by sitting in a shallow warm bath of water with a few drops of the same essential oils for 15 minutes.

Ear infections have been cured with a slice of fresh garlic clove wrapped in gauze and placed just inside of the ear. Cover the ear with a cotton ball and secure gently with a piece of paper tape. Change the garlic and gauze every 6-8 hours, until the earache is gone.Here’s how to make garlic tea:

Garlic tea recipe:

1. 4 cups of filtered, boiled water, and allowed to cool slightly
2. Add 4-5 cloves of finely chopped or crushed organic garlic.
3. Add fresh lemon juice and/or raw, unprocessed honey to taste.
4. Drink 3-4 cups daily, either warm or cold, but do not re-boil the solution ( it will stop the healing properties).

New Product: EverSafe Emergency Auto Kit

We recently added a new product to our site. The EverSafe Emergency Auto Kit makes a wonderful solution for your vehicle’s Emergency Preparedness. Weighing in at over 21 pounds, this kit is designed with the seasons in mind. With over 25 different products, it comes with items ranging from emergency calorie bars to a fire extinguisher and safety reflective vest, even an LED flashlight multi-tool!

Currently, kits for automobiles in the marketplace are  limited in what they offer and not geared for all types of weather. In designing this kit, we made it a priority to include tools & items that are commonly needed in a vehicle emergency such as getting stranded during a snowstorm, the car battery dying,  or waiting for road-side assistance or the tow-truck to show up. Come rain, shine, snow, or mud you will be better prepared with the EverSafe Emergency Auto Kit.

-The Berkey Guy

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

Emergency Lighting: The Importance of Lighting

Many people underestimate the importance of having light available during an emergency, but what does that mean? Why is lighting needed? Here are five basic & obvious reasons:

1. Safety
2. Security
3. Search & Rescue
4. Utility
5. Comfort

Professionals make sure their basics are covered. You should too!

Safety

In the event of power-outage, disaster, or emergent event, distancing yourself from hazards and danger areas is crucial. When lighting is limited, poor, or nonexistent, your lighting solutions will prove life-saving. Lighting which does not pose a threat to life will also help to avoid a sudden explosion or fire in the event that combustible gases/liquids are present.

Security

Lighting that does not pose a threat to explosion, fire, or releasing dangerous products of combustion is the only viable option. Flashlights, emergency strobes, and glow-sticks will perform well as solutions to darkness. Appropriate lighting can also prove beneficial by allowing individuals to become identifiable either by color coding light lenses, being able to visibly discern faces/features, and communicate via light-signals, traditional or improvised. Laser pointers are also excellent solutions to strategic pinpointing without necessarily exposing the origin of the sender of the laserbeam, just never shine the laser directly into an individual’s eyes!

Search & Rescue

We all need to be able to avoid becoming part of the problem (becoming a victim) and being able to see clearly is essential to that. In a house where structural damage is almost unavoidable, the ability to safely and clearly access injured children, adults, pets, etc., will be a matter of highest priority. Because we are all potential victims, providing personal lighting solutions may be a method that saves our lives when rescuers have to dig through rubble and confined space in order to extricate.

Utility

Lighting provides the ability to disassemble car engines, mechanical applications, and medical treatment. Even in daylight, access to a proper lighting solution such as a pocket-light will allow assessment of a victim’s pupils, to determine brain or optic injuries, as well as taking one’s vital signs. A pen light also allows us to examine sensitive areas of the body where visual indicators or serious injury are visually limited at best, such as the nostrils, ear canals, mouth, genitals, and deep puncture wounds.

Comfort

Lighting also offers psychological advantages such as site identification, landmark recognition, comforts individuals with phobias of darkness, and allows us to visually observe people/locations to keep them safe and free from unwanted/unauthorized visitors and intruders.

-The Berkey Guy

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.

Critical Thinking: 4 Food Storage Principles

Well, whatever the reason behind your interest in food storage, make sure to follow these four basic principles for storing food short-term & long-term: S.A.V.E.

1. Store foods that you like & eat regularly.
2. Add fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, if possible.
3. Variety of food choices within your storage enhances the experience of using it.
4. Educate & Evaluate the specific needs you/your family has in terms of nutritional intake needs (calories, carbs, vitamins, essential fats/oils, sugars, etc.), potential dietary restrictions/allergies/intolerances, preferences, and other factors unique to your situation.

#1 Store foods that you like & Eat regularly.

In-N-Out Double Double Animal Style

I wonder if an In-N-Out Double Double could be dehydrated or freeze-dried for long term storage? But seriously, so many families bulk up on wheat, beans, rice, and oatmeal, thinking that they will magically concoct recipes without having previously practiced and perfected cooking from scratch! Do not make this mistake. You should only store those foods that you will enjoy eating and that you are familiar with before having to consume them. This point dove-tails with #3, but onto point #2.

#2 Add fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, if possible.

Another mistake many make is to plan using their dehydrated/freeze-dried food as their primary source of the body’s energy & nutrients. Although high-quality food storage will possess properties of nutrition and taste good, it is crucial that fresh fruits & vegetables be available if at all possible. Fruit & vegetables that have been canned at home or preserved properly can be included in this point. This suggests that possessing gardening/canning skills will benefit all whose friend the gardener/canning expert is. Fresh meat will obviously have to be obtained from hunting…another skill that is not so easy as to “shoot, clean, & cook.”

#3 Variety of food choices…enhances the experience…

There is something to be said about the need for variety, especially if you have a finicky spouse, teenagers, or young children…or if you’re the picky eater! Besides the fact that a variety of foods ensures solid nutritional content, the psychology of a situation where food storage is required can involve mental/emotional stressors that will impact the situation in a tangible way. Also, morale improves when “the same old thing” doesn’t have to be eaten with reluctance and resentment. Because the eating of good food can prove an enjoyable experience to the senses & sociality, the converse is also true: “bad meals” can make people upset, create a psychological barrier to consciously maintaining health, and create unnecessary waste of precious resources.

The best plans are those which are properly made before-hand.

#4 Educate & Evaluate the specific needs you/your family has…

Continually striving to educate yourself & evaluate the specific needs for your particular situation, ensures a personalized plan that will enhance the health and well-being of your family. It is very important to be fully aware of any food allergies or intolerances an individual(s)  may have before preparing food supplies. An individual with allergies to honey might benefit from using Stevia as a sweetener or brown sugar. Perhaps this same individual demonstrates no allergy to baked bread that used honey as an ingredient prior to being baked. The key here is being informed and taking a proactive role in educating and evaluating the specific needs of your situation.

Preparedness Mindset Books: Making the Best of Basics: Family Preparedness Handbook

A Preparedness Lifestyle Resource!

Never mind all the scare scenarios. Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine what would happen if you became ill and couldn’t work, or if an earthquake or hurricane or bomb left your community devastated. It happens all the time. When unexpected disasters happen, people who are even a little prepared are much better off than those who have taken their dependence on outside resources for granted. When you imagine the security of not having to worry about going to the store for even a few weeks, a comprehensive storage system begins to make sense.

James Talmage Stevens’s Making the Best of Basics, now in its 12th edition, is one of the best-known preparedness bibles around. Stevens lays out a yearlong storage program of 15 food and nonfood categories, six of which (water, wheat and grains, dairy products, sweeteners, “cooking catalysts” like salt and oil, and sprouting seeds) are capable of sustaining life indefinitely in a no-frills diet. The other 9 categories are designated “Building Blocks,” and improve upon the basic diet and support a more routine, less Spartan existence while relying on stored supplies. (Some of them, such as medical supplies and fuel, will seem as essential to some readers as the first six.) The book’s main messages–store what you eat, eat what you store, use it or lose it–are at the core of its calm advice and simple, nutritious recipes.

The Go Berkey! Kit

The Go Berkey Kit is the most mobile & compact, stainless steel water purification system available. Designed to be used with various sources of water including tap water and raw water sources: lake, pond, river, spring, stagnant pond, stream, and well water. The Go Berkey Kit utilizes the powerful Black Berkey Elements. Black Berkeys have been used historically and are currently deployed world-wide, to places such as Africa, hurricane-strewn New Orleans, Louisiana, tornado-tossed Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and quake-damaged Haiti, to name a few.