British Berkefeld & Doulton FAQs

Berkey got in trouble with the EPA because the filters have silver particles impregnated into the carbon filter to try to kill the bacteria.

These filters fit (Travel Berkey, Big Berkey, Royal Berkey, Imperial Berkey, Crown Berkey, Berkey Light and Berkey Go Kit)

If you have a Berkey System and can no longer find Black Filters :

• You will want the Ultra Sterasyl filters.
• If you want to remove fluoride, you will no longer need PF2 Filters. You will want to purchase the Ultra Fluoride filters.

We recommend the replacement for the British Berkefeld ceramic water filters every 3000 litres / 800 gallons per set of 2 filters. Depending on usage the average replacement time is yearly.

Fairey Industrial Ceramics Ltd, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, is the sole manufacturer of Doulton® and British Berkefeld ceramic drinking water filters.

• British Berkefeld Performance Table 2023
• QFT Ultra SS Chemical Reduction Test Ultra Sterasyl
• QFT Ultra Sterasyl PFAS report
• All Water Filters can do at a glance
• Ultra Fluoride- Metals Reduction Testing pH 6.5
• British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl Doulton Pesticides
• British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl Doulton Pharma
• Alcontrol Laboratories Report E coli Sterasyl
• E-Tech ATC SS Lead Test ATC Super Sterasyl
• E-Tech ATC SS Metals HpH Test ATC Super Sterasyl

Learn about our NSF Certifications **Click Here**

Berkefeld owned by Doulton: The components and the filter’s performance are NSF Certified.

• NSF/ANSI 42
• NSF/ANSI 53
• NSF/ANSI/CAN 372

https://info.nsf.org/Certified/Common/Company.asp?CompanyName=doulton

Included with every stainless steel British Berkefeld System is a Lifetime Warranty!

There is no need to register. If you ever need to file a warranty claim, all you need is your order number, so please save this number. If the unit housings, standard spigot, washers, hole plugs, knob, or wing-nuts of your stainless steel British Berkefeld Water Filter System fail in any way due to defects in materials or quality, contact us.

Canada Water Filter warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship during ordinary recommended consumer usage. British Berkefeld and Doulton Ceramic Filters have a six-month warranty period. Canada Water Filter will replace or repair any product that it deems is not properly functioning during the stated warranty period. Relief under this warranty is limited to the replacement or repair of defective materials or workmanship only. Canada Water Filter shall not be held liable for incidental or consequential damage to personal property from, but not limited to, a defective unit, improper use, abuse, accident, or neglect, etc. No warranty will apply to units which have been used for purposes not intended, and which have been altered so as, in the manufacturer’s judgment, to affect adversely its performance. This warranty is for the original retail purchaser only, and cannot be transferred. 

The filters in British Berkefeld Water Systems remove sedimentary minerals but keeps beneficial (ionic) minerals. This is because the media formation of the filter elements doesn’t attract beneficial minerals. So minerals such as calcium, sodium, potassium, manganese, and magnesium pass through the filter. Sedimentary minerals that are attracted to the filter media such as chloramine and chloride are removed from water along with heavy metals such as aluminum, cadmium, chromium and copper.

Your water’s mineral content will depend on where you live. British Berkefeld water filters will leave healthy minerals in your filtered water while filtering bacteria and pathogens. The best way to find out your individual water mineral content is to check with your local water provider. Your local water provider will be able to let you know.

Our ceramic filters remove iron in particulate form. >99.99% will be removed at 0.9 micron or >99.99% at 0.5 to 0.8 micron. Filtration is not suitable for dissolved iron.

Our British Berkefeld Filters uses a combination of three different processes to filter water, including ion exchange and activated carbon filters, which are used to filter PFAS out of drinking water. Our filtration process starts off with our Ceramic Filters, which are made up of 6 different media types and have minuscule pores, making it difficult for contaminants to get through. On top of this, the filters use adsorption to keep more contaminants out. Ion exchange attracts heavy metals to the media, keeping even more contaminants out. Then, the gravity flow feature of our filter system has this process move slowly enough that contaminants have an even harder time to get through, but fast enough to help you get the filtered water you need. According to tests done by EPA-accredited labs, British Berkefeld Filters remove over 99.9% of PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, from the water along with other types of PFAS. That’s why each British Berkefeld Water Filtration System gives you the reassurance that your water is free of contaminants. Our Ceramic Filters go above and beyond EPA and ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) standards and we are the only certifiable gravity flow water filtration system that is NSF certified for the performance.

Our ceramic filters remove aluminum in particulate form. >99.99% will be removed at 0.9 micron or >99.99% at 0.5 to 0.8 micron. Filtration is not suitable for dissolved aluminum.

Handmade since 1826 – Almost 200 years of continuous technical improvements to the water filter we launched in 1826

The Ultra Sterasyl NSF certified filter reduce the following elements:

Turbidity: >98%
Bacteria (including E.coli, cholera, Shigella, typhoid, Klebsiella Terrigena): >99.99%
Cysts (including Cryptosporidium, Giardia): >99.99%
Range of pesticides: >95%
Medicines: >99.5%
Lindane: >99%
Atrazine: 99.38%
Benzene: >99%
Chlorine: >99%
Microplastics: 99%
Nanoplastics: 99% from a size of 0.5 microns (500 nanometers)
Heavy metals lead reduction pH 6.5: average 99.5% Lead reduction pH 8.5: average 99.5%

The healthy mineral content in your water will increase, leading to a slight increase in your water’s PH level.

Yes, plastic is BPA free, food-grade polypropylene.

Yes! Rainwater can be collected, poured through the British Berkefeld water filter system, and then safely used for drinking or cooking.

The shelf life of the British Berkefeld ceramic filters shored in dry sealed location is indefinite. In other words they will last until you need them.

Hard water is basically the presence of calcium carbonate in your drinking water which then appears as limescale caking on the element in your kettle for instance. The ceramic filters do not soften or decalcify water. One of the main advantages of the British Berkefeld filters is that the beneficial minerals present in the water are not removed such as is the case with reverse osmosis or distillation. You may find that the limescale build-up in your British Berkefeld is less or disappears completely using British Berkefeld filtered water. For instance you may see white particles floating in the bottom of your chamber instead of building up on the element. This is due to the fact that the ionic charge of the minerals changes by passing through the ceramic filters, the water becomes more alkaline and is then not able to hold all the minerals in solution, these minerals may then precipitate out and float in the bottom of the lower chamber. Every once in awhile you can rinse out the British Berkefeld and your hard water issue is resolved. You may also find a gritty layer building up and adhering to the sides of the lower chamber. Cleaning out the lower chamber with a mild vinegar solution will get rid of this build-up.

Yes it works with well water. But you can’t have a water softener installed. British Berkefeld Filters are designed to remove heavy metals, but will not remove mineral salts, which are added by a water softener. The salt used to soften water will not be extracted by the British Berkefeld Filters. You can use one of our system on a regular basis by bypassing your water softener to get your drinking water. Most water softeners have a bypass valve or way to get water before it passes through your softener. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain pre-softened water directly from the source rather than run softened water through the British Berkefeld Filters.

Stainless steel is widely used because of its excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and fabric-ability properties. The type of stainless steel that British Berkefeld manufacturing uses is austenitic 304-grade, which is also commonly used for appliances, commercial food processing, fasteners, and pipes. British Berkefeld water filter systems are designed to weather the test of time, and the materials used are selected for their high quality. They aren’t guaranteed to last forever, but with consistent care and proper maintenance, they’ll be a part of your family’s daily routine for a long time.

What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is an alloy of several different metals that are stronger when combined than when on their own.

Why British Berkefeld Uses Stainless Steel

1. Rust Resistance
2. Easy to Clean
3. Durable
4. Less Plastic
5. Aesthetics

Your British Berkefeld filter will last for years and years!

Another perk of the stainless steel system is the ease of cleaning–the upper and lower chambers are dishwasher-safe!
If you’re looking to reduce the amount of plastic in the world, there’s an option to order a stainless steel spigot instead of the standard black plastic spigot.

The look of polished stainless steel is sleek and simple, lending itself to fitting into a wide range of design themes, including classic Airstream trailers, and many modern home fixtures. British Berkefeld stainless steel water filters are strong but lightweight. Our smallest size, the Small British Berkefeld, weighs 6 lbs, and the largest size, the Extra Large British Berkefeld, weighs 12 lbs when empty.

DO NOT perform the red food dye test on white ceramic filters.

Eric Roy, PhD & Analies Dyjak, M.A.

The Red Dye Test is a visual demonstration used in marketing materials by various water filtration companies. In this demonstration, red food coloring is added to water and passed through a filter, where it comes out clear. Oftentimes this demonstration is done in a “side by side” manner against another water filter that does not remove the red coloring from the water. This demonstration suggests to the consumer that:

1. If a water filter can remove red dye, it’s also removing dangerous contaminants. In scientific terms, they’re suggesting that red dye is a “proxy” or “surrogate” for dangerous contaminants.
2. Water filters that do not remove the red color are not as effective as water filters that do remove red food coloring.

Is Red Food Coloring a Representative Proxy or Surrogate for Contaminants in Drinking Water?

Absolutely not. Identifying a representative proxy/surrogate requires that a credible testing body (e.g NSF/ANSI) has actually done experiments to validate it. An example of a representative surrogate test is NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for VOCs, where the certifying bodies have shown (through testing) that chloroform is an effective surrogate for roughly 50 VOCs. No such testing has been done (or to our knowledge attempted) for red food coloring. It goes without saying, if the visual removal of red food coloring was a representative surrogate for water filter performance, credible water filter companies would not be spending millions of dollars on research, development, testing, and evaluation.

Are Water Filters That Do Not Remove Red Food Coloring Less Effective At Removing Dangerous Chemicals?

Absolutely not. For example, one of the brands that prominently markets using the red dye test was part of a water filter evaluation study conducted by Duke and NC State University, and failed miserably. Conversely, various products that do not remove red food coloring were effective in filtering “hard-to-filter” PFAS from the challenge solutions. So while the brand effectively removes food-safe red dye, it isn’t able to remove PFAS. In fact, higher levels of PFAS were detected in the filtered water because the filtration media was likely oversaturated. In short, red dye is extremely easy to remove and is not an actual indication of filter performance or contaminant removal.

Is There a Quick and Easy Way To See if My Filter is Working?

While we wish there was an at-home test that could determine if your filter is doing its job, that unfortunately isn’t the case. Every home in America would test their water on a regular basis if at-home test kits provided actual information about water quality. If you want to test for contaminants, you’ll need to send a water sample to an accredited laboratory and test for a range of contaminants. This can cost thousands of dollars and doesn’t provide immediate results. The best way to ensure that you’re using an effective product is to buy products from companies that use third party testing & certifications.

No, we do not recommend using British Berkefeld water for CPAP machines because our systems do not remove minerals. CPAP machines will get damaged. Most CPAP machines require distilled water, as it does not contain minerals. As always, it is best to consult your doctor for any health related questions.

No, British Berkefeld Filters are designed to remove heavy metals, but will not remove mineral salts, which are added by a water softener. The salt used to soften water will not be extracted by the Ceramic Filters. You can use one of our filtration systems on a regular basis by bypassing your water softener to get your drinking water. Most water softeners have a bypass valve or way to get water before it passes through your softener. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain pre-softened water directly from the source rather than run softened water through your British Berkefeld Filters.

Duke British Berkefeld Water Filter 1.7 Gallons 1 hour 30 min (2 filters)

Princess British Berkefeld Water Filter 2.25 Gallons 2 hours 15 min (2 filters) 1 hour 8 min (4 filters)

Prince British Berkefeld Water Filter 3.17 Gallons 3 hours 15 min (2 filters) 1 hour 38 min (4 filters)

Yes it is normal as this is a gravity filters and there will always be a little water left in upper chamber, and not unusual for the last 2″ to 4″ of water to remain in the upper chamber. By design the water must pass through very fine micro pores within the elements in order to pass from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. The lower the water level in the upper chamber, the lower the pressure available to force the water through the micro pores. You may have noticed that the system purifies much faster when full than when half full. That’s because there is more water pressure. The only way to remedy this problem would be to enlarge the pores of the filter elements. This would of course, reduce the efficiency of the British Berkefeld Water Filter System. During each cycle the water left from the previous cycle mixes with the water from the current cycle and is then filtered. There is no need to be concerned about the excess water during normal use. Should you however discontinue using your filter for a period of time such as during a vacation, it would be best to empty both chambers before departing and leave them upside down to dry on the dish rack.

Dr. Young recommends simply adding ½ a teaspoon of baking soda to a gallon of purified water and shaking it vigorously to ensure it mixes in completely. Because baking soda is highly alkaline, adding only a small amount to your filtered water will result in a gallon of alkaline water.

Fresh lemons: If you prefer not to use baking soda, a fresh lemon added to your drinking water will also, eventually, make your filtered drinking water more alkaline. Though it seems counter-intuitive to think that adding an acidic lemon to your purified drinking water could ultimately produce an alkaline result, it’s important to remember that fresh lemons are also anionic. Once you drink the acidic lemon water, it will become alkaline as your body reacts with the lemons’ anions during the digestive process. Use fresh lemons that haven’t been exposed to air for more than 30 minutes — not lemon juice purchased at the store or lemons that have been cut up and sitting out in the open at a restaurant all day.

Drops: One other option to increase the alkalinity of your filtered water is to add drops created specifically for that purpose. There are several over-the-counter drops on the market that can be purchased at health food stores or online. Follow the directions on the bottle to determine the correct amount to achieve your desired effect.

6 Litre/1.5 Gallon Capacity | Accommodates: 1-2 people

8.5 Litre/2.25 Gallon Capacity | Accommodates: 1- 4 people

12 Litre/3.17 Gallon Capacity | Accommodates: 2-6 people

(1Litre) Adventure Portable Water Filter System

British Berkefeld Water Filter’s Scratch and Dent systems are for sale at discounted prices due to minor blemishes or dents that most commonly occur in transit to us and did not pass for ‘the new’/full sale price due to the blemish(s). British Berkefeld Water Filter’s Scratch and Dent systems enable you to enjoy economic savings while being assured that the performance of your British Berkefeld Water Filter System has by no means been compromised. All parts are new, unused, and guaranteed to work just as well as any other Berkefeld Water Filter System.

Cosmetically blemished British Berkefeld systems come with the same warrantied British Berkefeld Ceramic Ultra Sterasyl Water Filters (NSF Certified) you would receive in any of the full-price Berkefeld Water Filter systems.

Blemished British Berkefeld system chambers ARE NOT warrantied against cosmetic defects. 

Blemished systems are sold as-is – no refunds or exchanges 

When are they available?

We receive and inspect British Berkefeld shipments weekly and they are listed as they become available.

Proone and Berkey have considerably larger pore sizes than British Berkefeld. If you’re used to these brands and how quickly they filter, our Ultra Sterasyl and Ultra Fluoride may be a bit of a shock. They filter roughly 1 L per hour per filter. The pore size is smaller on British Berkefeld filters because it’s doing a considerably better job of filtering. After discarding, the 2nd time of filtering will also be faster. We have the ability to put 4 filters in all systems above the Duke British Berkefeld (1.58 gallon) which will cut the filter time in half.

Are you over filling it? When lower chamber is partially filled, be cautious not to overfill upper chamber as this could cause lower chamber to overflow. The British Berkefeld does not work like a water cooler. If the lower stainless steel chamber is full of water and you put water in the upper stainless steel chamber, it will spill out between the chambers as it is not sealed.

 If you leave the system unused for 5 days, it is recommended that any water left in the lower chamber be discarded. If you plan to leave the system unused for a period longer than 5 days such as a trip or vacation, it’s best to empty both reservoirs and leave them upside-down on a towel or in the dish rack to dry.  Remove your British Berkefeld ceramic water filters and place them in Ziploc baggies, and put them in the refrigerator. Also placing the sealed bags in the refrigerator keeps them from drying and absorbing odours in your refrigerator. Upon your return, you will need to reassemble the ceramic filters in your water filter system and filter water. 

You should be able to recycle the plastic mounts* and compost the old filter element or use it to help with drainage in the bottom of your plant pots.

* Check with your local recycling center’s – The mount is PPO and the adaptor ABS.

We suggest safely removing the mount using light pressure with a hammer to break it from the filter element. Next, cover the ceramic with an old rag and gently break it into small pieces, again using light pressure with a hammer.

Compost Your Old Ceramic Water Filter – Improves Compost Drainage!

If the filter is left unused for more than 24 hours, run at least half a gallon of water to waste before dispensing to drink, to ensure that your filtered water is fresh.

The filter housing is best cleaned by unscrewing the body from the head and wiping the surface and the inside of the body with a soft cloth dampened with warm water. Do this when you change your water filter.

No, there is no need to sterilize the ceramic filters. All our filters have bacteria inhibiting features built in.

Absolutely, this means that your ceramic filter is trapping dirt and bacteria that would otherwise be in your drinking water. If you find your filter blocking too often, look at using our Duo systems with a Sediment pre-filter that will help stop the blockages.

First, empty and disassemble the British Berkefeld Filters from the system. Use a cleaning pad similar to a Scotch Brite Pad or a stiff toothbrush and gently scrub the outside of the filters under cool running water. Reassemble the filters into the British Berkefeld system.

A common cause of mold growth is when water has been allowed to sit in the system for too long. We recommend changing the water in the system regularly . If you plan to leave town for an extended period of time, empty the system and follow the proper storage procedures for the filters. Mold is never a good thing to find, especially in your British Berkefeld water filter system. The good news is, mold can be easily removed and prevented. Mold growth is in the upper chamber of the British Berkefeld System, where the unpurified and raw water enters the system, though in some cases it can pop up in the lower chamber as well.

Remove the British Berkefeld Filters and scrub them with an abrasive pad or toothbrush. To clean the stainless steel housing, wash both the upper and lower chambers with warm water and a few drops of plain bleach that doesn’t contain any artificial scents or additives. The bleach will effectively remove the mold and kill off any bacteria in the chambers. After these steps are completed, you can reassemble the system and begin purifying your water again.

No. If you want to remove fluoride, you will no longer need PF2 Filters. You will want to purchase the Ultra Fluoride filters that sit in the top chamber.

You will no longer have plastic filters sitting in your clean water of the bottom chamber!!

Canada Water Filter Ships To :

Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut *

(*Some exceptions may apply for remote locations).

Remote locations in Canada are not eligible for free shipping. Please contact Canada Water Filter for the shipping costs if this may apply..

Wish we could, but the sales we have are as low as we can go. Thank you for your dedication and service!! Without people like you we would not have the freedoms we do!

The current discount promotion at Canada Water Filter can be found on each product with available coupon code options.

Please make sure your billing address matches your credit card billing address or the order will be denied. This is by design to prevent credit card fraud. You might want to call your credit card company and see if this transaction is being blocked.

No. Canada Water Filter is Canada’s Authorized Master Distributor of British Berkefeld and Doulton water filter products by Fairey Industrial Ceramics Ltd.

Fairey Industrial Ceramics Ltd, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, is the sole manufacturer of Doulton® and British Berkefeld® ceramic drinking water filters.

You can call Doulton at +44 1782 664420 to confirm. Their website is www.doulton.com.

See attached final decision where we’ve highlighted a few important paragraphs. Based on those paragraphs, we do not see an appeal having much success. As the court points out, Berkey International is the entity that received the stop order not NMCL or the Sheppard Trust. As such, Berkey International is the entity that may have standing to bring suit. That said, however, if Berkey International seeks to lift the stop order, we have a hard time believing that a court would lift the stop order to allow Berkey to continue manufacturing and selling a water filter products that violates FIFRA. Therefore, pursuant to the EPA stop order, it will remain in place to prevent the manufacture, sale, and distribution of Berkey black filter products, sport Berkey replacement filters, and sport Berkey water bottle units – and any other products that violate FIFRA.

Berkey Court Case Decision (PDF)

———————–

On December 27, 2022

The reason for the stop sale order alleges that “Berkey water filter systems were unregistered, misbranded pesticides,” according to an EPA Inspector.

According to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), “a pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, or intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, or any nitrogen stabilizer.”

Due to claims that Berkey treats living microorganisms like bacteria, a pest, this water filter should be, per FIFRA definition, categorized as a pesticide or pesticide device. In May of 2022, the EPA communicated with NMCL that Berkeys need to be registered as a pesticide device. In an EPA Close Out letter, “Under FIFRA section 7, all pesticide devices sold or distributed in the United States must be produced in a registered establishment. A pesticide device is defined as any instrument or contrivance that is intended for trapping, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest or any other form of plant or animal life.”

On December 17, 2023

Nearly a year later, the stop order has still not been lifted.

NMCL filed a lawsuit , suing for violations of the Administrative Procedures Act and due process involving Berkey water filters. The case requested an injunction and a restraining order against the EPA. The case was dismissed for “want of subject matter jurisdiction.”

Today

Still under a stop order, Berkey filed an appeal.

Alternative Solution

Your alternative Berkey filter elements are the British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl and Ultra Fluoride filters.

In 1998 Berkey® signed a distribution partnership with a British Berkefeld®. The name “Berkey” originated from the Berkefeld brand. Berkefeld filters built Berkey’s foundation and reputation. After a few years of success with British Berkefeld Water filters, Berkey created their own Black Berkey Purification Elements that you know of today.

Unfortunately, Berkey filters are under a stop order from the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Berkey is now tied up in the judicial system that might take months or years to settle, and we hope for the sake of all water filter companies that justice will prevail.

Berkefeld Brand owned by Doulton® is proud to have been a pioneer in providing families with access to clean drinking water since 1826. Using 100% natural materials, our ceramic water filters improve the look, odor and taste of tap water by filtering out 99.99% plus of contaminants, filtering out bacteria, cysts and particles while keeping in all of the healthy minerals.

No more priming filters and add-on PF2 fluoride filters. Berkefeld has an all-in-one filter that will remove fluoride and Berkefeld filters are NSF Certified with the guidance of the EPA.

Berkey still has their original website here www.britishberkefeld.com

ProOne components are NSF Certified and not the filters performance.

Understanding NSF 42, 53, and 372 Codes

NSF/ANSI 42 – Drinking Water Treatment Units – Aesthetic Effects
NSF/ANSI 53 – Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects
NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 – Drinking Water System Components – Lead Content

ProOne:

• Only NSF/ANSI 42

https://info.nsf.org/Certified/Common/Company.asp?CompanyName=proone

Berkefeld owned by Doulton: The components and the filters performance are NSF Certified.

• NSF/ANSI 42
• NSF/ANSI 53
• NSF/ANSI/CAN 372

https://info.nsf.org/Certified/Common/Company.asp?CompanyName=doulton

ProOne Testing Data:

One Hundred gallons of tap water was spiked with Emerging Contaminants Standard Solution to have a final concentration specified by the NSF Std. 401; the spiked tap water was filtered through the filter element and tested; the Emerging Contaminants drugs in the tap water were reduced by at least 86.3% after 100 gallons.

British Berkefeld Testing Data:
Our filters provided >98.9% filtration efficiency of all contaminants throughout the testing (3000 liters or roughly 800 gallons).

Comparative Results:
100 gallons vs 800 gallons,  86.3% vs 98.9%. Big difference:)