**This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you’ve been around Plan for Awesome for awhile, then you know I’ve professed my undying love for Berkey water filtration systems for a very long time. I still love and use my Berkey. But after some trouble with the EPA, they seemed to have suddenly disappeared from the market in the United States. Enter Boroux Water Filters.
In this post, I’m sharing a little more about what happened to Berkey and why I’m making the switch to Boroux instead of one of the many other options out there. I’m not telling you what you should do, I just want to provide the information I have so you can make the best decision for your water storage and filtering needs.
The answer isn’t really conclusive. Yes…and No.
While Berkey filters have vanished from sites in the United States, my understanding is that you can still purchase them in other countries.
Let’s get one thing straight – the actual Berkey product is not under fire from the EPA or consumer class action lawsuits (both of which Berkey has been actively fighting against). The problem has to do with the classification of elements used and consumers claiming that the filters do not perform at the level Berkey claimed they do. Neither the Stop-Sale Order or the consumer lawsuits claim harm or negative health effects.
I’m not here to get into the details of these cases. This article from Green Matters does a great job of reviewing the initial lawsuit against Berkey.
Enough about boring legal stuff. Let’s get to the real question if you’ve been a Berkey fan like me:
What do I do for water filtration for my family now?!
I am SO happy to report that the answer is really really really easy. You make the switch to Boroux (affiliate link).
The team at Boroux actually used to run BerkeyFilters.com (where I purchased all of my filters and recommended to all of my readers). Rather than wait for all the legal stuff to be flushed out, the Boroux people decided to get to work and improve upon what Berkey had built.
What is the key ingredient making Boroux stand out above the rest? In my opinion, it’s the addition of third party testing.
Again, I’m not the expert here so if you want to understand more about what third party testing is, check out this article from the International Product Assurance Laboratories (IPA). Basically, Boroux sends their filters to a company that has no relation to them and can provide unbiased research about the product.
And while Boroux did originally sell Berkey water filters, they are no longer affiliated with Berkey at all. New company, new product. But, keep reading because they did something awesome to help all of us Berkey owners out.
YESSSSSSSSSSSS! (Didn’t I tell you this amazing team tried to help us all catch a break in this whole mess?)
The Boroux Foundation filters use the same formulation that the original Berkey filters did. Plus, they made some improvements to the functionality (which are patent-pending). So, if you’ve been trying to find a Black Berkey replacement, you are in luck.
Again, the problem was not with the product itself – it was with the claims made by the company about how and what was being filtered out. Boroux avoids all of this by:
These filters will fit just fine with your old big B system.
If you like to do your own research, this blog post from the Boroux team gives a more thorough explanation of the situation and why they’re primed to take the top spot for your family’s water filtering system.
I was really bummed about this whole Berkey situation. It has been such a great fit for my family. I even sent one of the smaller systems with my oldest daughter when she went away to college. As most of you know, these things are not cheap. Worth it? Yes. And in the grand scheme of things, they do end up being budget friendly. Especially when you’re using them for daily water filtering AND emergency preparedness.
That being said, I have two Berkey systems at my house right now. It just doesn’t make sense to purchase a new Boroux system right now. But, I am FOR SURE ordering these filters as I need to make replacements. I trust this company, it’s mostly the same team I’ve trusted for years now. So I feel totally okay recommending them to you. I do not take these things lightly and I know if you’re going to spend money on something like a water filtering system for your family, you want the best of the best.
If you are tired of waiting around for the Berkey mess to get resolved (legal stuff is always a long haul friends), then this is your sign to check out Boroux Legacy Filatration Systems. You can use code AWESOME to get 10% off.
They also have some Open-Box systems you could check out here.
Everyday Preparedness:Simple Systems to Make Life Easier **This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I
There will always be things we don’t think about before we encounter an emergency. But, I’m here to help you think about some of the non-food storage items you might want to keep on hand for the next rainy day.
All the best options for long-term water storage for families with pros and cons to each water storage solution, including water tanks, water barrels, water jugs, water bricks, water pouches, water boxes, etc.
