Posted on 02/07/2012 8:53:36 AM PST by passionfruit
Some of you may have a Berkey water purifier. It is touted as the best there is.
From their wabsite:
"Berkey® Systems are the World’s Most Powerful and Cost Effective Personal Water purification Systems Providing Reliable and User-friendly Water Purification in Both Normal and Hostile Filtration Environments."
"Moreover, Berkey® systems are capable of purifying both treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. So powerful, this system is able to remove red food coloring from water without removing the beneficial minerals your body needs. Perfect for everyday use and a must in hostile environments where electricity, water pressure or treated water may not be available."
The above quote is from New Millenium Concepts website, found here:http://berkeywater.com/start.main.html
Unfortunately, The manufacturer, New Millenium Concepts has released at least three batches of defective filters.
The first batch is from late 2010. The second batch is from the first half of 2011, and after that they redesigned the filters. A number of people who received the new and improved filters, have seen those fail too. While New Millenium Concepts won't publicly acknowledge the latest round of failed filters, one of their distributors did admit it here, in post #94 http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=428442&page=4 So, they have redesigned the new and improved model. The defective filters that they will acknowledge are discussed here, in a PDF from the company. http://www.berkeywater.com/Element.pdf
I had posted an earlier thread here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2839673/posts The thread I am posting today contains new information. People's lives could depend on knowing bout these defective filters, so please don't flag this as a duplicate. It is not.
The defective filters allow untreated water to bypass the ceramic filter element entirely, and put unfiltered water into the lower chamber where only clean, filtered water should be.
I spoke with a manager from the company on Friday. I didn't accomplish anything with the call, as he wasn't one to listen. He is aggressive and talked over me as soon as I got a few words out. So I got to say a little about the fact that people weren't notified of the defective filters before he cut me off and went on and on about the PDF document that is buried deep within their website, and that was all the notice necessary.
I told him that I believe I had gotten ill from drinking unfiltered water from my Berkey water purifier before he cut me off again and explained how instructions are included with each and every Berkey that instruct the customer to do the red food color test, and if a customer gets sick, it's their own fault.
I told him that their quality control is appalling they have no clue what goes into each and every box, that I hadn't received one of the plugs I was supposed to receive, I didn't get the lid lifter knob, and I didn't get the instructions, before he cut me off and said "that's debatable", and went off on another tangent.
I said that I wanted them to do a recall of all of the filters from the defective batches, and he ended the conversation by telling me that wasn't going to happen.
I have called the EPA, the FDA, and the CPSC. They all say they have no authority over water filter manufacturers. I was finally referred to the FTC. I have filed a complaint with them. The FTC also recommended that we all file complaints with our state attorney general.
I feel very strongly that people who have these filters must know about the defect, and that the defective filters must be recalled. As I said above, according to the manager at New Millenium Concepts "that isn't going to happen." So I'm doing everything in my power to get the word out to as many people as possible.
Please forward this thread to anyone you know of that has a Berkey filter. You just might save their life!
For your prepper ping list.
I’ve heard rumors that if you pass urine through it you get Budweiser beer.
Thanks...I bought a Berkey this year...for emergency....just shoved it in the garage....so NOW I have to go check to see if it has a problem....
Wow, I didn’t know that Berkey must support Obama.
(All sleazy companies support Obama...that’s how they can remain sleazy.)
You should definitely check it and start the painful process of getting them to send you new filters if they are defective.
There have been numerous threads on prepper and homestead sites about this problem. It’s real and Berkey has gone from the best countertop filter to the worst IMO not just because of this problem but their customer service too.
If someone pays hundreds of dollars for a product it should work as advertised. The old Berkey’s were great but their efforts to save money and ramp up production have destroyed a great reputation.
Buyer beware.
>> “I’ve heard rumors that if you pass urine through it you get Budweiser beer.” <<
.
Anheusier Busch trade secret...
I own a similar water filter, Aqua Rain. Same concept; stainless steel, ceramic filter filled with activated charcoal.
Aqua Rain is made in the USA, in Missouri. Great customer service, less expensive than Berkey, and they make their own filters.
Huh?
Preppers’ Ping!
Regardless of which filter you may be using, after running the water through the filter, it should either be boiled or treated with SSKI.
Just common sense.
That would work with old scrap of burlap. Remember, Bud!it’s not as bad as it tastes.
yikes!
“Thanks...I bought a Berkey this year...for emergency....just shoved it in the garage....so NOW I have to go check to see if it has a problem....”
And this is why I’m getting the word out. I’ so glad you read this!
I bought some Aqua Cera filter candles that fit in my Berkey base. They cost about half what the Berkey filters cost, here: http://www.stpaulmercantile.com/index.php?action=store&item=SS47
They also sell Doulton filters that fit into the Berkey housing.
I haven’t received them yet. I did google them to see if there were known defects, and couldn’t find anything.
I have my needs covered with a katydyn filter system as well as a do it your self system that will get 99% of the bad stuff out and will just need a simple chemical treatment.
Thank you. I thought I had put that link in.
Thanks for the filter recommendation. Do you happen to know if these (AR) filters will fit/work in a Berkey? The system looks very similar.
it should either be boiled or treated with SSKI.
What about a few drops of bleach (I forget the scientific name of pool shock)?
it should either be boiled or treated with SSKI.
What about a few drops of bleach (I forget the scientific name of pool shock)?
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