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What Does Berkey Remove?

The heart of Berkey® water purification systems is Black Berkey® Purification Element (sold in pairs of two), which remove a range of contaminants from drinking water. See the list below.

VIRUSES Removed to >99.999% (Log 5)
Exceeds Purification Standard (Log 4):
MS2 Coliphage ; Fr Coliphage.


PATHOGENIC BACTERIA (AND SURROGATES) – Removed to >99.9999%
Exceeds Purification Standard (Log 6): Bacillus atrophaeus (Anthrax surrogate); Raoultella terrigena (Pathogenic Bacteria Surrogate); Salmonella Enterica.

TRIHALOMETHANES – Removed to >99.8%
(Below Lab Detectable Limits):
Bromodichloromethane ; Bromoform ; Chloroform ; Dibromochloromethane.

INORGANIC MINERALS
Removed to Below Lab Detectable Limits: Chloramine; Chloride; Chlorine Residual (Total Residual Chlorine); Free Chlorine
HEAVY METALS (HIGH & LOW pH LEVELS)
Aluminum (>99%); Antimony (>99.9%); Barium (>80%); Beryllium (>99.9%); Bismuth (>99.9%); Cadmium (>99.7%); Cobalt (>95%); Chromium (>99.9%); Chromium 6 (>99.85%); Copper (>99.9%); Iron (>99.9%); Lead (>99.9%); Mercury (>99.9%); Molybdenum (>90%); Nickel (>99.9%); Vanadium (>87.5%); Zinc (>99.9%).

PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS CONTAMINANTS – Removed to >99.9%
Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Carbamazepine; Ciprofloxacin HCl; Erythromycin USP; Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim; Bisphenol A; Diclofenac Sodium; 4-para-Nonylphenol; 4-tert-Octylphenol; Primidone; Progestrone; Gemfibrozil; Ibuprofen; Naproxen Sodium; Triclosan.

ALSO REMOVES OR REDUCES:

Arsenic (>99.9%); Escherichia coli (E. Coli) (>99.999%); Fluorene (>99.9%); Manganese (>99.9%); MBAS (>96.67%); Nitrites (>95%); PCB’s (>99.9%); Petroleum Products (Gasoline, Diesel, Crude Oil, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, Refined Oil- All >99.9%); Selenium (>99.9%); Thallium (>99.5%); Rust; Silt; Sediment; Turbidity; Foul Tastes and Odors.
* For Heavy Metals, Inorganic Minerals, Pesticides, Petroleum, Pharmaceuticals, Semi-VOC’s, THM’s, VOC’s; reduction exceeded lab detection limits.

Pesticides & (Semi) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Removed to Below Laboratory Detectable Limits

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane

Wikipedia indicates that 1,1,1,2 Tetrachloroethane is a solvent and is used to produce wood stains and varnishes. 

PubChem is chemistry database at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)  which uses the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) to classify the following health hazards associated with this compound:

    • H302 (100%): Harmful if swallowed [WarningAcute toxicity, oral]
    • H310 (57.14%): Fatal in contact with skin [DangerAcute toxicity, dermal]
    • H312 (14.29%): Harmful in contact with skin [WarningAcute toxicity, dermal]
    • H315 (14.29%): Causes skin irritation [WarningSkin corrosion/irritation]
    • H318 (42.86%): Causes serious eye damage [DangerSerious eye damage/eye irritation]
    • H319 (57.14%): Causes serious eye irritation [WarningSerious eye damage/eye irritation]
    • H331 (71.43%): Toxic if inhaled [DangerAcute toxicity, inhalation]
    • H332 (28.57%): Harmful if inhaled [WarningAcute toxicity, inhalation]
    • H351 (28.57%): Suspected of causing cancer [WarningCarcinogenicity]
    • H412 (14.29%): Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]
    • Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown.

 Source: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/12418#section=GHS-Classification

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1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA)

Wikipedia indicates the following:

“1,1,1-Trichloroethane is generally considered a non-polar solvent. Owing to the good polarizability of the chlorine atoms, it is a superior solvent for organic compounds that do not dissolve well in hydrocarbons such as hexane. It is an excellent solvent for many organic materials and also one of the least toxic of the chlorinated hydrocarbons. Prior to the Montreal Protocol, it was widely used for cleaning metal parts and circuit boards, as a photoresist solvent in the electronics industry, as an aerosol propellant, as a cutting fluid additive, and as a solvent for inks, paints, adhesives, and other coatings. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane is also used as an insecticidal fumigant.

“It was also the standard cleaner for photographic film (movie/slide/negatives, etc.). Other commonly available solvents damage emulsion, and thus are not suitable for this application. The standard replacement, Forane 141 is much less effective, and tends to leave a residue. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane was used as a thinner in correction fluid products such as liquid paper. Many of its applications previously used carbon tetrachloride (which was banned in US consumer products in 1970). In turn, 1,1,1-trichloroethane itself is now being replaced by other solvents in the laboratory.”

—

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane is a manufactured, colorless, dense liquid that does not burn easily. It is volatile and has a sweet odor. In the past, it was used in large amounts to produce other chemicals, as an industrial solvent to clean and degrease metals, and as an ingredient in paints and pesticides. Commercial production of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane for these uses has stopped in the United States. It presently is used only as a chemical intermediate in the production of other chemicals.

Source:https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1_1_2_2-Tetrachloroethane

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  • 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane
  • 1,1-Dichloroethane (1,1-DCA)
  • 1,1-Dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE)
  • 1,1-Dichloropropene
  • 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene
  • 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
  • 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
  • 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
  • 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
  • 1,2-Dibromoethane
  • 1,2-Dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 123a)
  • 1,2-Dichlorobenzene
  • 1,2-Dichlorobenzene-d4
  • 1,2-Dichloroethane
  • 1,2-Dichloropropane
  • 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
  • 1,3-Dichlorobenzene
  • 1,3-Dichloropropene
  • 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
  • 2,2-Dichloropropane
  • 2,4,5-T
  • 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
  • 2,4-D
  • 2,4-DB
  • 2-Butanone (MEK)
  • 2-Chlorotoluene
  • 2-Hexanone
  • 2-Methyl-2-propanol
  • 3,5-Dichlorobenzoic Acid
  • 3-Hydroxycarbofuran
  • 4-Bromofluorobenzene
  • 4-Chlorotoluene
  • 4-Isopropyltoluene
  • 4-Methyl-2-pentanone
  • 4-Nitrophenol4,4′-DDD4,4′-DDE
  • 4,4″-DDT
  • 5-Hydroxydicamba
  • Acetone
  • Acenaphthylene
  • Acifluorfen
  • Alachlor
  • Aldicarb
  • Aldicarb Sulfone
  • Aldicarb Sulfoxide
  • Aldrin
  • alpha-Chlorodane
  • Ametryn
  • Anthracene
  • Aroclor (1016, 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260)
  • Atraton
  • Atrazine
  • Baygon
  • Bentazon
  • Benzene
  • Bromacil
  • Bromoacetic Acid
  • Bromobenzene
  • Bromochloromethane
  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromomethane
  • Bromoform
  • Butachlor
  • Butylate
  • Butylbenzylphthalate
  • Carbaryl
  • Carbofuran
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Carboxin
  • Chloramben
  • Chlordane
  • Chloroacetic Acid
  • Chlorobenzene
  • Chlorobenzilate
  • Chloroethane
  • Chloroform
  • Chloromethane
  • Chlorpropham
  • Chlorprophane
  • cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
  • cis-1,3-Dichloropropene
  • cis-Nonachlor
  • Cycloate
  • Dacthal Acid
  • Dalapon
  • Diazinona
  • Dibromoacetic Acid
  • Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)
  • Dibromomethane
  • Dicamba
  • Dichloroacetic Acid
  • Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC 12)
  • Dichloromethane
  • Dichlorvos
  • Diclorprop
  • DieldrinDiethylphthalate
  • Dinoseb
  • Diphenamid
  • Disulfoton
  • Disulfoton Sulfone
  • Disulfoton Sulfoxidea
  • Endrin
  • EPTC
  • Ethoprop
  • Ethylbenzene
  • Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
  • Fenamiphos
  • Fenarimol
  • Fluorobenzene
  • Fluridone
  • gamma-Chlorodane
  • Glyphosate
  • Halo acidic Acids (HAA5)
  • Heptachlor
  • Heptachlor Epoxide
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • Hexachlorobutadiene (CCC)
  • Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
  • HexazinoneIsophorone
  • Isopropylbenzene (Cumene)
  • Lindane (Gamma-BHC)
  • Merphos
  • Methiocarb
  • Methomyl
  • Methoxychlor
  • Methylcyclohexane-methane
  • Methyl Paraoxon
  • Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
  • Metolachlor
  • Metribuzin
  • Mevinphos
  • MGK 264
  • Molinate
  • Monochlorobenzene
  • m-Xylenes
  • Naphthalene
  • Napropamide
  • n-Butylbenzene
  • Norflurazon
  • n-Propylbenzene
  • Oxamyl
  • o-Xylene
  • Pebulate
  • Pentachlorophenol
  • Picloram
  • Prometon
  • Prometryn
  • Pronamidea
  • Propazine
  • p-Xylenes
  • sec-Butylbenzene
  • Simazine
  • Simetryn
  • Stirofos
  • Styrene
  • Tebuthiuron
  • Terbacil
  • Terbufos
  • Terbutryn
  • tert-Butylbenzene
  • Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
  • Tetrahydrofuran (THF)
  • Thiobencarb
  • Toluene
  • Toxaphene
  • trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene
  • trans-1,3-Dichloropropene
  • trans-Nonachlor
  • Triademefon
  • Tribromoacetic Acid
  • Trichloroacetic Acid
  • Trichloroethene (TCE)
  • Trichloroethylene
  • Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC 11)
  • Tricyclazole
  • Trifuralin
  • Vernolate
  • Vinyl Chloride
  • and many more*