Berkey filters

Thanks everyone.

Since it is totally portable, it is so flexible and covers all bases, except space issues. I don't have to rely on "clean" water through only my FW tank and kitchen sink.
By the time you add up an inline filter or 2 and replacement cartridges, I think I will come out way ahead with a one-time investment with the Berkey.
BTW, folks have made their own Berkeys with black Berkey filters and 2 cheap stainless steel stock pots from Walmart. Saves you the cost of the 2 overpriced containers at $150.

Spendy and takes up some space. I have class C and filter water before it gets into the FW tank - that seems to work well for me. Perhaps a filter under the kitchen sink?

I like the idea of flipping the top unit and storing it inside the bottom for space saving. However, I really don't think you would want to do this if you been using questionable water. All your "gunk" whether chemical, debris, biological could just fall into you clean container and contaminate the whole operation. Maybe I am just envisioning using truly horrid water.

We had our Big Berkey for over 20 yr. in our S&B and it's still delivering good tasting water. We wash the two black ceramic filters once a year to keep them clean so filtering is as fast as possible.

We also got a Travel Berkey for the TT because it's a little smaller (2 gal vs 2.5 gal) and fits better on the limited counter space. For travel, DW empties the water from the bottom section, flips the top section into the bottom, and stands the combination into the kitchen sink. The bottom section has a rubber ring around the base so there's no damage to the sink or Berkey.

TIP: Berkey filters hold water so don't leave them in a cold TT during freezing temps - they may fracture. Also the metal support stands sold by Berkey are the best (sturdiest) available stands for the unit and are designed to fit each specific unit. The optional water level spigot is not IMHO worth buying. The clear water level is too difficult to see in the tube and the tube seals leak.

Cannot comment on the travel Berkey, but I have used the Big Berkey for over 20 years at home and it produces some of the best water I have ever tasted, but I am filling it with spring fed artisan well with whole-house 10 micron charcoal and 1 micron sediment filtered water.

The ceramic filters will perhaps be the last ones you will ever need. I have never had to clean mine, but they clean up well with a clean green-colored kitchen pad.

Berkey's are not cheap, but I feel that the cost spread over several years is worth the price.

About a month ago we bought the Big Berkey with the 4 black filters to take with us in the TC. A survivalist company seller through Walmart had a great special with 4 filters for the price of 2!

In the meantime we are using it 100% at home and love it so far! We used to take our Brita pitcher with us, but those filters really don't do much. Plus the Berkey is also a certified purifier, not just a filter...so in the apocalypse I can have clean water from any source!

There were several times during our AK trip we would have liked to get some more water at campgrounds, etc. but sometimes it said to boil first! You can't boil that much water and we don't want to contaminate our FW tank with questionable water. The Berkey just seemed to make sense for us in multiple capacities and takes away a lot of the water worries for us, on the go, at home, when the SHTF.;)

We will have to figure out exactly how to secure it during travel so it doesn't tip or slosh. I have seen others set it on the floor and bungee it to cabinet hardware. When we travel on rougher roads, we may set it in a "tub" and somehow attach.