Berkey’s countertop water filter system is sure to have piqued your interest if you’re searching for a water filtration system for your house. It’s one of the most widely used water filtration systems of the decade, but that doesn’t mean it’s the finest.
Only a little more searching will lead you to the Zero Water filter. Like the Berkey water filter, this water filter pitcher employs gravity to filter water. Apart from their identical filtration processes, however, these two filters are very different.
Filter Comparison
Berkey Filters
Berkey’s filtration system may accommodate up to four Black Berkey components; a system normally includes two elements, but you can add two more for an extra fee. The filter components of gravity water filters rely on gravity to filter the water. There is no electricity or water supply to the system.
Berkey’s components are made up of six different media categories. Coconut shell carbon filtering medium is used in the construction, and it captures pollutants in its tiny pores during the adsorption process, preventing them from passing through the filter with the water particles.
Zero Water Filters
On the surface, the Zero Water Filtration and Berkey water filter systems appear to be quite comparable. Zero Water’s filters, like Berkey’s, are gravity water filters that filter water through five stages to remove more than 99 percent of dissolved solids, including heavy metals.
A coarse filter screen, a foam distributor, a carbon and oxidation reduction alloy, an ion exchange resin, and an ultra-fine screen and non-woven membrane are among the stages of the water filter system. Later, I’ll explain what they perform and how they provide the most
efficient filtering.
The ZeroWater Filter’s structure is far more compact and simpler than the Berkey water filter. The system is a pitcher with a filter that rests just within the unit, connected to the bottom of the lid, rather than two stainless steel tanks in one.
What contaminants do they remove?
The contaminant-removal capabilities of Zero Water and Berkey are well-known. Both are capable of removing heavy metals, chlorine and other chemicals, fluoride, and a variety of other contaminants. Berkey’s water filtration systems are said to remove more impurities (over 200) than Zero Water’s, however Zero Water has the benefit of being NSF certified, whilst Berkey’s claims are merely supported by independent lab testing.
Performance
Berkey
Berkey water filters are regarded for their long-term dependability, and you will be hard-pressed to find a filter that performs better in terms of longevity. The filter components are intended to cleanse even the most contaminated drinking water, and water with a high TDS level should not slow down the filtering process.
However, don’t expect Berkey’s water filters to function as rapidly as a faucet or a whole-house filter because they lack the force of water pressure or energy to accelerate the water flow. While the Berkey water filters are undeniably comprehensive, they are not meant to give you with fast filtered water like gravity water filters.
Zero Water
Zero Water, on the other hand, is NSF certified for chlorine reduction, taste and odor, and lead reduction (Standards 42 and 53). Not only that, but the business is so confident in the ZeroWater filters’ capacity to remove pollutants that each water filter pitcher comes with a complimentary water quality meter that you can use to check the TDS (total dissolved solids) in your water before and after filtering.
The Zero Water pitcher was designed to deliver the most comprehensive filtration possible for a pitcher of its sort, with five stages of filtration packed into a very tiny filter. When water enters the filter, it first passes through a filter screen, which filters out rust and particles. The foam distributor in the second stage of the filter eliminates any suspended particles that haven’t been removed yet, and the carbon oxidation reduction alloy in the third stage filters out organic pollutants, including certain metals and chemicals.
Lifespan and replacement costs
Berkey filters
The filter life of Berkey filters is one of its most appealing features. Two of Berkey’s filtering components have a 6,000 gallon lifetime, which means they should last about four years for an average household of four. If you buy two more Berkey water filter elements and install them in your system, the filter life of all four elements will be doubled, allowing you to go longer between replacements.
The expense of a set of two Berkey water filter components, which costs roughly $120, is more than justified by their lengthy lives. Four filters cost roughly $240, and since that’s a payment you’ll only have to make once every eight years, it’s well worth the money.
Zero Water filters
A set of two Zero Water filters costs roughly $30, and each one is said to last between three and five months. If you buy and utilize the Zero Water filters on a regular basis for the next 2.5 years, you’ll pay around $180. It’s not a bad price for a water filter, especially one with five filtering stages and such a thorough job, but other major brands are less expensive.
Final Verdict
Is one truly superior than the other? The answer is that it depends on your requirements. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. If you’re willing to spend money on new filters every few months or so, Zero Water is a better alternative for you, but Berkey’s systems are a lower-maintenance, more cost-effective solution that is well-suited for long-term usage.
