Anybody use a Berkey water filter?

roamermatt wrote:
To clarify, Berkey filters are classified as "purifiers" because they remove 99.999% of pathogens and viruses. They do not merely make the water taste better.

http://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkey-answers/performance/filtration-specifications/

They also work without electricity or pressure. They work solely by gravity. And for the volume of water they can produce (~3 gallons/hour for a small model) they take up very little space.

All this is why I consider them useful for boondocking. I'm merely wondering if anyone uses them this way, where you place it in your RV, how you refill it with water, whether there are any unique maintenance issues, etc.

Dave: Thanks for reporting your experience at home with a Berkey. Confirms what I've heard from others.

Greenrv: Thanks for your report. If you are not using a Berkey filter, what filter are you using? By "candles" I presume you mean filter elements. How are these arranged in your system? Is it home-built or off-the-shelf?

The reason I am considering such a system is I will be traveling in a truck camper that has only a 30-gallon water tank. I may want to stay longer in one place than one tankful can serve.

Roamermatt:

Purchasing a countertop system like a Berkey is a very sound investment and you're right it is a water purifier, pond water, whatever.

To me there's only a few decisons to make, what brand filters to use and how many filters to use.

As I stated I'm using the Black Berkey elements with the PF-2's and run two but could run four total. As long a I keep the filters clean the flow rates are more than fine for the Big Berkey size.

I'm also looking at an under counter model as well but for the time being my Berkey is the only source of water that I consume whether it be tap, pond, whatever.