So, here’s the thing, I finally pulled the trigger on my third water filter, this time a Big Berkey water filter, and honestly, I’ve been kicking myself for waiting so long. You know that feeling when you’ve been researching something forever, reading reviews, watching YouTube videos, and debating whether it’s worth the investment? That was me with the Big Berkey for about three months.
But let me back up a bit. As someone who’s been into prepping and self-reliance for two decades, I’ve always known that water is the foundation of everything. You can survive weeks without food, but without clean water? You’re looking at maybe three days if you’re lucky.
Why I Finally Made the Jump to the Berkey Water Filters
The wake-up call came during a power outage a few years ago that lasted six days. We were at our country retreat and our well pump obviously couldn’t run without electricity, and while I had stored water, watching those jugs dwindle made me realize how quickly you can burn through your reserves. My wife kept asking about our backup plan, and honestly, I didn’t have a great answer beyond “we’ll boil water from the creek if we need to.”
That’s when I knew I needed to stop researching and start buying. The Big Berkey water filter kept coming up in every prepper forum, survival blog, and emergency preparedness discussion I’d seen. The price tag was around $350 for the system with filters and made me wince a bit, but when I broke it down per gallon of clean water over the filter’s lifespan, it actually made financial sense.
First Impressions: Unboxing and Setup
When the Big Berkey arrived, my first thought was “this thing is substantial.” The stainless steel housing feels solid, not flimsy like some of the modest gravity-fed systems I’d looked at. It’s definitely got some heft to it, which actually gave me confidence that this wasn’t some cheaply made contraption that would fall apart after a few months.
The setup process was surprisingly straightforward, though I’ll admit I watched a couple of YouTube videos first because I’m paranoid about messing up expensive equipment. The system comes with two Black Berkey purification elements, and priming them is probably the most involved part of the whole process. You need to run water through each filter for a few minutes to flush out the initial manufacturing residue.
Here’s something they don’t emphasize enough in the marketing materials, you really want to let those filters run for longer than they suggest during the priming phase. I did about fifteen minutes per filter instead of the recommended five, and I’m glad I did. The first few cups of water had a slight taste that I wasn’t thrilled about, but after that extended priming, it was crystal clear and tasteless.
Putting It to the Test
Now, I’ll be straight with you, I didn’t immediately start drinking pond water or anything crazy like that. I started by running our well water through it, which gave me a baseline for taste and flow rate. Our water isn’t terrible, but it definitely has a taste that most city water doesn’t have.
The difference was immediate and noticeable. The Big Berkey water tasted cleaner, fresher, without any of that chemical aftertaste. My wife, who’s usually skeptical of my prepping purchases, actually commented on how much better the water tasted without me even mentioning it.
But the real test came when I decided to get more adventurous. There’s a pond behind our property that I’d always wondered about, not exactly pristine, but not obviously contaminated either. I figured if the Big Berkey water filter could handle that, it could probably handle most emergency water sources I might encounter.
The Pond Water Experiment
Let me tell you, there’s something psychologically challenging about pouring murky pond water into a filter and trusting that what comes out the bottom is safe to drink. I tested it first with our dogs (don’t judge me, they drink from that pond anyway), and when they showed no ill effects, I tried a small glass myself.
The water that came out was clear, odorless, and tasted perfectly fine. No weird aftertaste, no particles, nothing that would make you think it came from a stagnant pond twenty minutes earlier. That moment really sold me on the system’s capabilities.
I later had the filtered pond water tested at a local lab, mostly for my own peace of mind and the results were impressive. The filter had removed 99.9% of the bacteria and other contaminants that were present in the source water. For a gravity-fed system that doesn’t require electricity, pumps, or any complex maintenance, that’s pretty remarkable.
Daily Use and Practical Considerations
After a few months of regular use, I can tell you that the Big Berkey has become a natural part of our daily routine. We fill the upper chamber every morning, and by evening it’s ready to refill again. The flow rate is decent, not lightning fast, but perfectly adequate for a family’s daily water needs.
One thing I really appreciate is how quiet it is. Unlike some filtration systems that hum or make noise, the Big Berkey just sits there doing its job silently. You can hear the occasional drip of water, but it’s actually kind of soothing, like a very slow, very purposeful metronome.
The capacity is just right for our household of three. The lower chamber holds about 2.25 gallons, which typically lasts us through a day of normal use. During hot weather or when we’re more active, we might go through it faster, but the upper chamber refills easily enough.
Performance in Different Scenarios
Here’s where things get interesting for us prepper types. I’ve tested this system with various water sources to see how it performs in different emergency scenarios:
Creek water during a camping trip: Worked perfectly. The water looked slightly cloudy going in but came out crystal clear. No stomach issues, no weird tastes. My camping buddies were impressed enough that two of them ordered their own systems when we got back.
Rainwater collection: This was eye-opening. We set up a basic rainwater collection system using gutters and a clean barrel, and the Big Berkey handled that water beautifully. The peace of mind knowing you can turn any rainfall into drinking water is pretty significant when you’re thinking about long-term preparedness.
Well water at a friend’s rural property: Their well water has a strong iron taste and leaves orange stains on everything. The Big Berkey filtered that out completely. It was like drinking bottled water instead of the metallic-tasting stuff straight from their tap.
What About Maintenance?
This is where the Big Berkey really shines compared to other systems I’ve researched. The maintenance is minimal and straightforward. Every few months, I clean the stainless-steel chambers with warm soapy water, nothing fancy required. The filters themselves are supposed to last for about 3,000 gallons each, which works out to several years of normal household use.
The company provides a simple cleaning process for the filters when the flow rate starts to slow down. You basically scrub the outside of the ceramic shell with a ScotchBrite pad, which removes the buildup and restores the flow rate. I’ve done this once so far, and it brought the filtration speed back to like-new performance.
Cost Analysis: Is the Big Berkey Water Filter Worth It?
Let’s talk numbers because that’s what ultimately matters for most of us. The initial investment of around $350 feels steep, but when you break it down:
- Each Black Berkey filter is rated for 3,000 gallons
- Two filters = 6,000 gallons total capacity
- That works out to roughly 6 cents per gallon of filtered water
- Compare that to bottled water at $1+ per gallon
Even if you only used it for emergency situations a few times per year, it pays for itself pretty quickly. But as a daily-use system, it’s a no-brainer financially.
The real value, though, isn’t just financial. It’s the confidence knowing that regardless of what happens to your regular water supply, power outages, municipal water problems, natural disasters, or just wanting clean water while camping, you’ve got a reliable solution that doesn’t depend on electricity or complex parts.
Drawbacks and Honest Criticisms
I’d be lying if I said the Big Berkey was perfect. There are a few things that could be better:
Size and portability: While it’s not huge, it’s not exactly compact either. If you’re planning to bug out with it, you’ll need to factor in its size and weight. There are smaller Berkey models, but you sacrifice capacity.
Flow rate: It’s not fast. If you need large quantities of water quickly, you’ll be waiting. For normal household use, it’s fine, but in a crisis situation where you’re trying to supply water for multiple people, the flow rate could be limiting.
Initial taste: Those first few batches of filtered water had a slight off-taste that took some getting used to. It goes away after the filters are properly conditioned, but it’s worth mentioning.
Price: Let’s be honest, $350 is a lot of money upfront. There are cheaper filtration options available, though I’d argue none with the same combination of capacity, reliability, and versatility.
The Bottom Line
After several months of daily use and testing in various scenarios, I can confidently say the Big Berkey water filter lives up to its reputation. It’s not perfect, but it’s reliable, effective, and simple enough that anyone can use it without special training or equipment.
For preppers and survivalists, it checks all the important boxes: no electricity required, handles a wide variety of water sources, minimal maintenance, and proven performance. The peace of mind alone is worth the investment.
You know what really convinced me this was the right choice? Last week, our neighbor’s well pump died, and they were without water for three days while waiting for repairs. We were able to help them out with clean, filtered water from our Big Berkey, and seeing the relief on their faces reminded me why I got into prepping in the first place.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on the fence about the Big Berkey water filter, my advice is to stop overthinking it and just buy one. Yes, it’s an investment, but it’s one of those purchases that immediately makes you feel more prepared and self-reliant.
Water security is fundamental to everything else we do in the preparedness community. You can have all the food storage, generators, and gear in the world, but without clean water, none of it matters much. The Big Berkey gives you that water security in a simple, reliable package that just works.
Three months ago, I was still researching and debating. Today, I’m wondering why I waited so long to pull the trigger. Sometimes the best gear is the gear you actually buy and use, rather than the perfect system you’re always planning to get someday.
Trust me on this one, your future self will thank you for making the investment now rather than wishing you had when you actually need it. So if you’re ready to try it click the button bellow and check it out on Amazon:
