Black berkey water filter order

[Technik]

Wasn't sure if I should post it here or in the "water" section so mods please move it wherever is suitable. Thank you

I wanted to order the black berkey water filters for the berkey/berkefeld. I don't know of any place here in UK so have to order from US. I thought that maybe someone else wants to buy these and we can chip in for the delivery, the more people order the more we split the cost.

The order would be placed on here http://www.berkeywaterfilterseurope.co. ... lters.html

Cost: £62 per set (2 filters)
+ Vat + customs so that's roughly £18 (maybe less but nost sure how much customs there will be so I took the max vat+cust at 30%)
so £62 + £18 = £80
+ shipping £22 (which would be split by however many people order)
If the vat + customs are less then I would let you know and refund the difference.

Now if there is only person chipping in with my order and just getting one set then I can order and then when it arrives I can ask for money but if there is more than that then I would probably need the payment BEFORE I place the order (preferably by paypal) because I'm getting 4 of these myself so a bit more money going out of my account and can't cover much more.

Anyone interested please let me know asap. The deadline is Monday 27/08/12 at 20:00 (to be specific) and after that the order is going out with or without anyone else.

Cheers

[Arzosah]

I was looking at getting a Berkey Light, with the two filters bought at the same time - the cart comes up as £168, which is £134 for the Light and two filters, and £34 for shipping and handling. Not sure if its right to include this in any joint order - sending it onwards (I see from your profile where you are, and I'm the other end of the country!) would be, um, problematic.

[preppingsu]

This following information is from a very reliable source whose advice I trust.

I'm sure all members here are aware of this...but just in case not

There are many (and I do mean a LOT) of reported cases on the net of Black Berky filters failing - mainy due to adhearnce issues between the ceramics and the filter base causeing unfiltered water to run through.

It is worth bearing in mind that "Black Berky" filters are not made made by Doulton / Fairey Ceramics and are not connected in any way with British Berkfeld filters. They are made in an undisclosed factory and supplied through an American firm. No recall has been issued and customers are advised to check their filters using red food dye.

Given that filters are failing in use, I usupect this isn't the best advice.

I would suggest that everyone stick to the real thing....but do check the rports for yourself by putting
black berkey filter problems
into your favourite search engine

He then also said

there is much speculation that the "Berkey" name is a deliberate attempt to confuse people with British Berkfeld. The people in the US do not manufacture the black filters but buy them in from an un-named source (speculation is one or more of these Chinese factories that specialise in ....reproductions).

I feel people would be much better off going for the real thing from Doulton / Fairey

Just for your information

[Arzosah]

Eek! Yes, as a newbie I thought the two were identical. Thanks for the heads up, preppingsu.

[preppingsu]

My advice giving friend suggested this website

http://www.freshwaterfilter.com/article/Water_Softeners

[Technik]

I have a genuine British Berkefeld which in size and almost everything else is the same as the Big Berkey but half the price and no big shipping cost from US because you can buy it very cheap on here http://www.avonsoft.com/system/index.html. All filters fit in either the Berkefeld or Berkey. If I were you Arzosah I would get the Berkefeld with ceramic filters here in UK and maybe the Black (redesigned and safe) filters from US, like I do.
Now as for the filters. The Black filter problem has been resolved and they have introduced a new model which has a flat top and it works perfectly, no issues. A lot of preppers in US use these on a daily basis filtering pond/lake/stream water and they highly reccomend them.
There is a lot of speculation about the Black filters - if they do what they do even though there is official info on their performance, why are they so much more expensive than the ceramic ones, etc. I wish we could have an independent report from someone that did a lab test with all of these filters.
The problem with the ceramic filters (that come with British Berkefeld as recommended by Su's friend) is that they don't remove everything from water and the Black filter was suppose to be the answer to that.

[Cougar]

This is the best description I have found of the differences between black and white filters and from someone who has been selling Berkeys in the US for a long time.
http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/ind ... #msg301991

[Technik]

Thanks for that info cougar, that clears a little bit. But still an independent test would be nice to see.

[Ferricks]

I need to be honest - I can't get my head 'round water filters and i struggle with the concept of how to use them.

Can i please ask a question about the Berkefield? is it plumbed into the mains? Is it possible to fill it manually in any way?

[Technik]

Berkefeld and Berkey are gravity fed so no plumbing. These are great emergency/shtf filters because they are portable, dead simple, not much to break and long lasting. They look like two stainless steel "buckets" on top of each other, top one holds dirty water and filter, bottom one filtered clean water, you fill dirty water at the top and it slowly drips through the filters at top, leave any impurities on the filter and let only clean water through (theoreticaly) to the bottom "bucket", simple. Hope that helps.