The Berkey debate has gone on for years. People either swear by it or question whether the claims hold up. Both reactions are understandable when you look at the actual situation: a product with impressive-sounding test results that isn’t NSF certified and got flagged by the EPA in 2023.
Here’s what the facts actually show, without taking sides on the brand.
What Berkey Is
Berkey makes large-capacity stainless steel countertop gravity filters. No electricity. No plumbing. Water pours in the top chamber, gravity pulls it through the Black Berkey purification elements, and filtered water collects in the lower chamber.
The standard Big Berkey holds 2.25 gallons. The Royal Berkey holds 3.25 gallons. The Crown Berkey holds 6 gallons. Most households use the Big or Royal.
The Black Berkey elements are the core of the system. A standard 2-element setup has a rated capacity of 6,000 gallons combined (3,000 per element). At a gallon a day of household use, that’s a very long filter life. Replacement elements run about $130 for a pair.
Current pricing for the Big Berkey is around $280 to $350. The Royal Berkey runs about $330 to $400.
Check current pricing (affiliate link, see disclosure above)
What Berkey Claims
Berkey’s website states that Black Berkey elements remove PFAS, arsenic, viruses, bacteria, pharmaceuticals, chlorine, heavy metals, and hundreds of other contaminants. Claimed reduction rates are 99.9% or better for many of those.
These claims come from lab tests commissioned by Berkey. The results are published on their site. That part is true. The question is what kind of evidence those tests represent.
The NSF Certification Situation
Berkey elements are not certified by NSF International under any NSF/ANSI standard.
This matters because of how NSF certification works. When a filter manufacturer submits a product for NSF certification, NSF:
- Purchases the product independently (not samples the manufacturer selects)
- Audits the manufacturing facility
- Tests the product in their own labs or accredited partner labs
- Retests periodically to maintain certification
Berkey’s lab tests are commissioned directly by Berkey. That means the manufacturer selects the lab, submits the samples, and pays for the testing. Independent verification by a certifying body hasn’t happened.
This doesn’t mean the lab results are false. It means the evidence standard is lower than what NSF certification requires. The difference matters most when you’re making a purchasing decision based on specific contaminant removal claims.
If you look up filters on the NSF product database at info.nsf.org, Berkey doesn’t appear. Clearly Filtered, AquaTru, and iSpring all do.
The EPA Classification
In 2023, the EPA classified Berkey systems as pesticide devices under FIFRA (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act). The trigger was Berkey’s antimicrobial marketing claims, specifically claims about bacteria and virus removal.
Under FIFRA, products making antimicrobial claims must register with the EPA as pesticide devices. Berkey contested this classification. The dispute affected product availability in some states during 2023 and 2024.
This isn’t a unique situation. Any filtration product making bacteria or virus removal claims faces the same regulatory scrutiny. Berkey’s conflict with the EPA came from marketing language that the agency determined triggered FIFRA jurisdiction.
The classification doesn’t mean Berkey is unsafe. It means their marketing claims put them in a regulatory category they haven’t formally addressed through EPA registration.
What Independent Testing Shows
Independent testing of Berkey, not commissioned by Berkey, has generally found:
- Good reduction of chlorine, taste, and odor. This is consistent with activated carbon performance, which is well-documented across the industry.
- Good reduction of many VOCs. Again, consistent with carbon.
- More variable PFAS results than Berkey’s own documentation shows. Some independent tests have found lower PFAS reduction rates than the 99.9% Berkey claims.
The variability in PFAS data is the most important finding for anyone with confirmed PFAS contamination in their water. Berkey may reduce PFAS meaningfully. But the results aren’t as consistent as what you’d get from an NSF P473-certified reverse osmosis system.
Who Berkey Is Right For
Berkey makes a lot of sense for some situations.
Off-grid and camping use is the clearest case. No electricity, no plumbing, large capacity, and long filter life. A Berkey in a cabin or on an extended trip is genuinely useful.
Emergency preparedness is another strong fit. A Berkey sitting in your garage for emergency use gives you a gravity-fed filtration option when city water is compromised or you’re on stored water.
Households whose main concern is chlorine taste, odor, and common organic contaminants will likely be satisfied with what Berkey actually delivers based on independent carbon performance data.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you have confirmed PFAS contamination in your water, an NSF P473-certified reverse osmosis system gives you documented, independently verified removal rates. That’s a stronger evidentiary standard than what Berkey provides.
If you need NSF certification documentation for your own records, for a landlord requirement, or for any formal compliance reason, Berkey won’t satisfy that requirement.
If bacteria is a concern in your water (particularly well water users), UV disinfection paired with carbon filtration is more reliable than a gravity filter for microbiological removal. The EPA classification situation around Berkey’s antimicrobial claims adds uncertainty to that use case.
Models and Costs
| Model | Capacity | Price (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Berkey | 2.25 gallons | $280 to $350 |
| Royal Berkey | 3.25 gallons | $330 to $400 |
| Crown Berkey | 6 gallons | $450 to $550 |
All models use the same Black Berkey elements. Two elements are standard. Replacement pair: approximately $130. Rated life: 6,000 gallons.
The Recommendation
Berkey is a solid product for its intended uses: off-grid, emergency backup, and households focused on taste and chlorine. The long filter life and no-electricity design are real advantages.
But if you need certified PFAS removal, an NSF-certified RO system is the right call. AquaTru (NSF P473 certified) handles PFAS removal in a countertop format with no plumbing. An under-sink RO system gives you higher volume with the same documented removal rates.
If you’re comparing Berkey against a standard pitcher filter, Berkey is more capable by volume and filter life. But Clearly Filtered gives you NSF-certified PFAS and fluoride removal in a format that’s easier to use daily.
For understanding what NSF certification actually means and why it matters, the NSF certification standards explainer covers each standard in plain language.
Buy Berkey if you want gravity filtration for preparedness or off-grid use. Look elsewhere if you need verified health-contaminant removal documentation.