Berkey v. AquaTru v. Something else altogether - please help me decide!

Submitted by sunnybear990 t3_zm0k0k in BuyItForLife

I've been going back and forth on water filters for several months, and just need to make a decision already. I know a lot of folks hold the Berkey in high esteem, but their hesitancy to seek NSF certification makes me nervous about shelling out that much $ for one. Also read about some issue with their fluoride filters leaching aluminum into the water, or something like that.

The AquaTru would be a no-brainer for me, except for its use of Tritan plastic. I really would love a plastic-free water filter/carafe - although I'm sure I could just decant the filtered water into a glass container after filtering if I wanted to...

I'm also open to an under the sink system, but am not in a position to drill into my countertop to add a new faucet.

Does anyone have other suggestions, or perhaps can calm my fears about the Berkey? My family and I struggle with some autoimmune issues, so that informs my search for purified drinking water - if that's helpful to know!

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velielyn t1_j08nclj wrote

There's currently a class action lawsuit against Berkey claiming their filters don't achieve anywhere near the contaminant reduction percentages they claim. There's a wirecutter article worth reading.

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sunnybear990 OP t1_j08utxe wrote

Replying to velielyn (#931,575)

Thanks so much - I'll officially take that one out of the running. People are just so obsessed with it, it made me rethink whether my skepticism was reasonable!

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dellusion89 t1_j095hrw wrote

I have the aquatru and love it. Annoying part is small capacity so constantly having to add more water throughout the day

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graywoman7 t1_j096j3y wrote

Berkey filters are not well regarded here. The company refuses to use the industry standard testing that everyone else uses while still claiming their filters are the best in the world. People who have tested water from them show varied results.

I used to have one and after some research got rid of it. We now have a basic home filter plus some emergency filters. Sawyer squeeze and lifestraw family are both good options.

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Diotima245 t1_j09j963 wrote

Get a distiller (I use megahome) and remineralize it. I run a gallon before I go to bed and it’s the purest water you’ll ever taste. These are the trace minerals I use. Extremely pure.

Anderson's Sea M.D. Concentrated... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028BW0IO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I have a Berkey I bought around a decade ago and recently tried taking it out of storage. I think it’s ok but the water is not as pure as distilling your water.

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velielyn t1_j0b2on9 wrote

Replying to CopperBranch72 (#934,535)

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/big-berkey-water-filter-system/amp/

That's the above mentioned wirecutter article, which outlines failed lab tests. Also in the article is a discussion of the third party certifications that are typical of water filters that Berkey doesn't have. To my knowledge, Berkey claims these are cost prohibitive.

As far as the lawsuit, it was filed by One World Filters. The court filings are messy, it's been dragged through at least 2 states, and I'm not a lawyer. There aren't specific news articles about it that I've found, it's all forum posts and YouTube videos with snipits of court filings. Not great sources, but coupled with independent lab testing and their refusal to pursue 3rd party certification; it seems like a perfectly good reason not perchase a $300+ water filter.

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