2014 Lab Test Results from Envirotek Laboratories Inc., New Jersey

In the latest round of tests commissioned by NMCL the Black Berkey Water Filters have been found to remove Chloramines, Pharmaceuticals, BPA, as well as an expanded list of pesticides and heavy metals. Discover the full 2014 Lab Test Results in PDF format. Please see below for the highlights of the 2014 round of Testing.

Black Berkey Testing Highlights:

1. Bisphenol-A - Removed to greater than 99.9%. A common endocrine disruptor found in PET plastic bottles, for all those who pour bottled water into their Berkey.
2. Chloramines - Removed to greater than 99.9%. In response to increasing uncertainty among existing and potential Berkey customers as to whether the Black Berkey filters are removing chloramine. Many water authorities have been switching to chloramine instead of chlorine for water disinfection.
3. Pharmaceuticals - Removed to greater than 99.5%. Due to rising concerns about the presence of pharmaceuticals in our water supply, the Black Berkey filters have been tested for the removal of 17 different pharmaceuticals. There were no additional types of pharmaceuticals available for testing at this lab, however we can safely presume that these results would be similar to others not tested for.
4. Petroleum Contaminants - Removed to greater than 99.9%. Unfortunately it’s increasingly common that oil spills and petroleum are contaminating our water sources, this has been of increasing concern to our customers for some time, especially since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The Black Berkey filters remove these contaminants.
5. Pesticides - Removed to greater than 99.9% These tests were performed as confirmation of earlier testing, however more pesticides were included in this round of testing
6. Heavy Metals - Removed to greater than 99.1%. These tests were performed as confirmation of earlier testing, however more heavy metals were included in this round of testing.
7. Coliform and e-Coli - Removed to greater than 99.9%. These had already been tested for before and shown to be removed to over 99.9999%. This could be considered as confirmation testing.

A couple of additional remarks:

It was decided by NMCL and the lab to set the limit at 99.9% or Log 3 reduction before testing began. Each Log level or percentage reduction costs significantly more for testing and is typically not needed. It comes down to a function of cost versus what levels they believe are acceptable to customers & dealers. Log 3 (99.9%) reduction is significant and the testing costs remain within acceptable limits; that is why this level was settled upon.

You may notice in the test results that almost all of the contaminates measured after running through the Black Berkey filter, show "less than" as the measured contaminate level left in the water. This actually means that the actual reduction levels are "greater than" 99.9% - exceeding the target reduction level tested for.