Correction: upon further research, the amount of contaminants removed by Berkey systems seems to vary based on the water source. There's currently a class action lawsuit against Berkey on this issue (overstating the amount of contaminant remove…
Correction: upon further research, the amount of contaminants removed by Berkey systems seems to vary based on the water source. There's currently a class action lawsuit against Berkey on this issue (overstating the amount of contaminant removed). Not all water sources will have full contaminant removal by a Berkey system. Again, testing the water (which is expensive!) is probably the only way to be 100% certain what is being filtered out of your water and what is not.
I've had a Berkey water filtration system since December 2016, and I've been happy so far with the quality of the water. I just changed my Black Berkey filters for the first time in October 2022. This is a video about filter longevity, tips on how to choose the best water filtration system for you, and moral support for people having filter priming issues.
Update: the red food colouring test came out completely clear on the new filters. So I'm now on my second set of filters. I'll do the red food colouring test if I have a question about the efficacy of the filters later on. I'm not opposed to changing water filtration systems if I become aware of a better option.
One possible tip for priming the filters: if you have an outside tap on your home, it might be better for priming the filters. They're usually small faucets where you could use your thumb to create the seal.
I found this video on easy filter priming. You just unscrew the end of modern taps so the water comes out with more pressure. I'm excited to try this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG-gz9-23Qg
You can also try using a plastic squeeze bottle with a narrow enough tip to put inside the stem of the filter. I hope this works! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6qZ-7kvqNs
