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!
You may be interested: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/115909-graphene-the-perfect-water-filter
“dichlor” or “trichlor”
The latter is really nasty stuff, calling for something like 1/4 teaspoon per 55 gals. Using it in smaller quantities of water can cause an “explosion” of concentrated chlorine.
I haven’t had anything but good experiences with Jeff (the Berkey Guy) at www.directive21.com.
There was a problem with one set of filters, and they PROMPTLY sent out a replacement set.
The first correspondence, though, WAS to do the “red dye test”.
I wonder, however, if you’re supposed to do this periodically and how often.
Bleach is toxic in and of itself, while SSKI is perfectly safe, and has the added advantage of providing necessary iodine to your body.
Use no chlorine if you want to live a long life!
SSKI is ideal for purification, after the solids have been removed.
I would use the cholorine before the Berkey...
Pond water -> tshirt filter -> chlorine treatment -> Berkey -> drink
New Millenium Concepts recommends that you do the red food color test every six months. The problem is that the filters separate easily and without warning. They will pass the test one day, and fail the next. So if you do your test, then two weeks later, it separates, you will be drinking unfiltered water for 5 1/2 months before you do the test again and learn of the defect. And that is if you do everything according to manufacturers instructions.
Jeff, the berkey guy does seem to be a great guy. I don’t envy him or the other Berkey dealers, because right now they are spending a great deal of time and effort dealing with customer complaints and returns, rather than making money by selling new stock.
ping
ping
Hey! I was expecting to see Smiling Bob!
“What about a few drops of bleach (I forget the scientific name of pool shock)?”:
I run a water company. We use Sodium hypochlorite as the disinfecting agent. It’s just double-strength bleach, (pool shock). SHCL is 12.5%, bleach is 6.25%. SHCL/bleach is a combination of chlorine and other substances, mostly water. SHCL/bleach starts to deteriorate the instant the Cl2 is combined with the water. Tests have shown that, by the time 6.25% bleach reaches consumers, it’s strength has dropped to around the 3% to 4% range. So if you plan to use bleach, or SHCL, as a disinfectant, don’t count on an old bottle that’s been sitting around for a couple years. It will still most likely work, but the dosage will be greater. Also, store it in a cool, dry place, out of sunlight, as other conditions will cause it to go stale at an even faster rate. And keep it sealed.
We use 2-2 1/2 gallons a day for between 40,000 and 60,000 gallons of water. A little dab’ll do ya.
We use 2-2 1/2 gallons a day for between 40,000 and 60,000 gallons of water. A little dab’ll do ya.
Thanks so much for your expert advice. I do have the pool schock and the amount per gallon written down somewhere. But, you still have to boil the water after the chemical addition, right?
Oh! And get a free and Total chlorine residual test kit of some sort. Test strips and color wheel, or something similar. Free reading of between 1.0 and 1.5 is good. Total, slightly higher.
” But, you still have to boil the water after the chemical addition, right?”
Well,,,, that I don’t know. But we certainly don’t boil our water after treatment. We get our water from four 200 foot deep wells, treat it as it comes into the plant. It goes straight into clear wells (storage tanks) and from there is pumped into the water mains for delivery to customer’s homes.
We get our water from four 200 foot deep wells, treat it as it comes into the plant.
Big difference - ours comes from the Mississippi River!
Thanks for responding.
When you pass water through a horse, you WILL get Budweiser beer.
“Big difference - ours comes from the Mississippi River!”
Very big difference! Just recall the deaths in Milwaukee some years ago. Surface water can be quite contaminated, and requires more treatment steps. But we’re talking here about water that’s been filtered though a device. I’d still add chlorine to it, no matter how safe they proclaim it to be! Just my opinion.
I’ve used the katdyn pocket filter since mid 80’s all over the world while active duty an never had to do such. Some of the newer types and brands are not as good as the katdyns in my experience an opinion.
Never had to boil it....if processed through the katdyn.
Now all that said with gamma globulin shots an a crap load of immunizations also had something to do with staying well aside from suspect water sources.
I have two of the expedition grade katdyn filters as well as a few of the ceramic pocket filters. Other brands are cheaper yet.... Not worth the trouble when it comes to getting sick.
Stay safe....
Bttt....
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