Berkey Filter Test Results

In-depth lab tests for the standard Black Berkey Filters

Many water filters on the market may claim to be a purifier but do not meet the performance specifications required for this classification. In order to be classified as a water purifier, a water treatment device must remove at least 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria (known as a 6-log reduction in the water treatment industry) and reduce viruses by 99.99% (4-log reduction).

Our Berkey water filter systems can be classified as a water purifier because our elements actually remove 99.9999999% of pathogenic bacteria (9-log reduction) and 99.999% of viruses which greatly exceeds the standards.

The Black Berkey filters have been tested by several EPA-accredited laboratories including the Department of Toxicology and Environmental Science at Louisiana University, Spectrum Labs, and the University of Phoenix. This extensive testing confirmed that the Black Berkey Purification Elements far exceed EPA and ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) protocol. Find out what makes Berkey a water purifier.

The Black Berkey filters have been lab tested and confirmed to remove or greatly reduce the contaminants listed below.

Lab Test Reports for Berkey Filters

The Black Berkey Purification Elements far surpass other water filters in filtration capability, as evidenced by their extensive filtration specifications. These elements have a specialized purification process that is due to their unique structure. The element's filtration media is a combination of micro-pores, which trap harmful contaminants like bacteria, and revolutionary material with adsorption and ion exchange properties that essentially attract molecules and viruses to the media, preventing them from passing into your drinking water. A pair of Black Berkey Filters comes with every Berkey Water Filter System.

How to test your filters at home:

We recommend doing the Red Dye Test as soon as you get new filters and every 3-6 months. It's very rare, but possible that your filter could have been damaged during transport. Doing the Red Dye Test is a DIY way to check your Berkey filters.

We do NOT recommend using a TDS meter for Berkey water. It does show the filtering effectiveness because of the mineral composition in Berkey water.

Looking for a recommended size? Check out the Big Berkey Water Filter (customer favorite), the Royal Berkey (family size) or get help choosing one.

What Contaminants Do Berkey Filters Remove?

Berkey Removes Viruses to >99.999% (5-log)
MS2 Coliphage - FR Coliphage
*Exceeds purification standards (4-log)

Berkey Removes Pathogenic Bacteria (And Surrogates) to >99.9999%
Raoultella terrigena (Pathogenic Bacteria Surrogate); Bacillus atrophaeus (Anthrax Surrogate); Salmonella Enterica
*Exceeds purification standard (6-log)

Berkey Removes Trihalomethanes to >99.8%
Bromodichloromethane; Bromoform; Chloroform: Dibromochloromethane
*Below Lab Detectable Limits

Berkey Removes Inorganic Minerals up to 99.9%
Chloramines; Chlorine Residual (Total Residual Chlorine); & Free Chlorine >99.9%
Chloride >99.6%
*Removed to Below Lab Detectable Limits

Berkey Removes Heavy Metals (High & Low pH Levels) up to 99.9%
Aluminum (>99%); Antimony (>99.9%); Barium (>80%); Beryllium (>99.9%); Bismuth (>99.9%); Cadmium (>99.7%); Cobalt (>95%); Chromium (>99.9%); Chromium 6 (>99.85%); Copper (>99.9%); Iron (>99.9%); Lead (>99.9%); Mercury (>99.9%); Molybdenum (>90%); Nickel (>99.9%); Vanadium (>87.5%); Zinc (>99.9%)

Berkey Removes Microorganisms to >99.9%
Including: Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, e.Coli

Berkey Removes Pharmaceutical Drug Contaminants to >99.9%
Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Carbamazepine; Ciprofloxacin HCl; Erythromycin USP; Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim; Bisphenol A; Diclofenac Sodium; 4-para-Nonylphenol; 4-tert-Octylphenol; Primidone; Progesterone; Gemfibrozil; Ibuprofen; Naproxen Sodium; Triclosan.

Berkey Removes Pesticides & Volatile Organic Compounds to Below Lab Detectable Limits
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA), 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane (1,1-DCA), 1,1-Dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2-Dibromoethane, 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 123a), 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorobenzene-d4, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichlorobenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropene, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, 2-Butanone (MEK), 2-Chlorotoluene, 2-Hexanone, 2-Methyl-2-propanol, 3,5-Dichlorobenzoic Acid, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, 4-Bromofluorobenzene, 4-Chlorotoluene, 4-Isopropyltoluene, 4-Methyl-2-pentanone, 4-Nitrophenol 4,4b 2-DDD4,4b 2-DDE, 4,4b 3-DDT, 5-Hydroxy Dicamba, Acetone, Acenaphthylene, Acifluorfen, Alachlor, Aldicarb, Aldicarb Sulfone, Aldicarb Sulfoxide, Aldrin, alpha-Chlordane, Ametryn, Anthracene, Aroclor (1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260), Atraton, Atrazine, Baygon, Bentazon, Benzene, Bromacil, Bromoacetic Acid, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromomethane, Bromoform, Butachlor, Butylate, Butyl Benzyl Phthalate, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon Tetrachloride, Carboxin, Chloramben, Chlordane, Chloroacetic Acid, Chlorobenzene, Chlorobenzilate, Chloroethane, Chloroform, Chloromethane, Chlorpropham, Chlorpropham, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, cis-Nonachlor, Cycloate, Dacthal Acid, Dalapon, Diazinon, Dibromoacetic Acid, Dibromochloropropane (DBCP), Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichloroacetic Acid, Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 12), Dichloromethane, Dichlorvos, Dichlorprop, Dieldrin Diethyl phthalate, Dinoseb, Diphenamid, Disulfoton, Disulfoton Sulfone, Disulfoton Sulfoxide, Endrin, EPTC, Ethoprop, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene Dibromide (EDB), Fenamiphos, Fenarimol, Fluorobenzene, Fluridone, gamma-Chlordane, Glyphosate, Halo acidic Acids (HAA5), Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene (CCC), Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Hexazinone Isophorone, Isopropylbenzene (Cumene), Lindane (Gamma-BHC), Merphos, Methiocarb, Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Methylcyclohexane-methane, Methyl Paraoxon, Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Mevinphos, MGK 264, Molinate, Monochlorobenzene, m-Xylenes, Naphthalene, Napropamide, n-Butylbenzene, Norflurazon, n-Propylbenzene, Oxamyl, o-Xylene, Pebulate, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram. Prometon, Prometryn, Pronamide, Propazine, p-Xylenes, sec-Butylbenzene, Simazine, Simetryn, Stirofos, Styrene, Tebuthiuron, Terbacil, Terbufos, Terbutryn, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Tetrahydrofuran (THF), Thiobencarb, Toluene, Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, trans-Nonachlor, Triadimefon, Tribromoacetic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid, Trichloroethene (TCE), Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC 11), Tricyclazole, Trifluralin, Vernolate, Vinyl Chloride, and many more*

Also removes or reduces: Arsenic (>99.9%); Escherichia coli (E. Coli) (>99.999%); Fluorene (>99.9%); Manganese (>99.9%); MBAS (>96.67%); Nitrites (>95%); PCB s (>99.9%); Petroleum Products (Gasoline, Diesel, Crude Oil, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, Refined Oil- All >99.9%); Selenium (>99.9%); Thallium (>99.5%); Rust; Silt; Sediment; Turbidity; Foul Tastes and Odors.