I’m sure you’re wondering why there are two water filters that have earned the best drinking water filter contest. As an environmental scientist and and mother, one might be more economical than the other depending on family needs. Never the less, I will go into detail about why these two countertop filters are winning. I hope to encourage healthy drinking habits and reduce plastic waste among all of you searching for your new health cycle.

Why The Berkey Water Filter

The Berkey is the ONLY countertop water filter that can remove micro-organisms such as e.Coli AND pharmaceutical drugs such as Ciprofloxacin. Now, city water adds chlorine to kill most pathogenic bacteria but those super bugs are getting through developing a resistance to our treatments increasing risk of our little ones getting sick. The increase in chlorine from city water is also becoming a problem creating carcinogenic biproducts such as chloroform.

See the complete list of contaminants the Berkey removes here. They consist of over 200 contaminants.

The fact that we DO have city water is actually quite amazing and beneficial to a point. Having a second filtration system at home to remove contaminants that he city cannot remove without contributing to plastic contamination like buying bottles of water is quite ideal. My grandmother recently bought the Berkey because her water tasted and smelled incredibly bad contaminated with organic matter along with too much chlorine. She used to buy bottles of water instead becoming quite the chore on the old joints. The purified bottle water did not have beneficial minerals our bodies need and that $1 bottle actually cost more than the Berkey filter system over time.

Each Berkey filter element has a life of 3,000 gallons: That’s an incredible 6,000 gallons for a two-filter system (less than 2 cents per gallon of water). – Berkey

Since the Berkey water systems can filter up to 6,000 gallons before the filter needs replaced, this allows for larger families to drink clean water for longer and cheaper. The average person drinks about 1/2 gallon of water per day.

The cost of the Berkey filter system which includes the two filters varies depending on the size and is an investment up front due to the high quality and durable stainless steel it’s made from. The system actually comes with a lifetime warranty if it ever gets damaged.

Why The Aquagear Water Filter

The Aquagear water filter pitcher is a smaller size made of plastic which is fully recyclable and also comes with a lifetime warranty. Not as exciting compared to the big and sturdy stainless steel Berkey, BUT it filters 96 contaminants including flouride and arsenic which the Berkey requires additional filters for those but at least still available as an option. This amount of contaminants is 2,000% more than the competing countertop filters you typically see on the store shelves.

The Aquagear filter lasts up to 150 gallons of water filtering which means the filter needs replaced sooner than the Berkey. Since my family has grown, I now use my Berkey for daily drinking and my Aquagear for traveling and watering my houseplants. Houseplants are sensitive to chlorine and flouride. Those who are as obsessed with indoor plants as I am completely understands. Traveling is more convenient with the Aquagear since it is plastic and smaller. This makes it more lightweight. So nights in a hotel room I don’t need to spend $8 on a small bottle of water and I don’t need to drink the strange tasting tap.

The Berkey vs Aquagear And Where To Buy Them

The Berkey

  • More durable with a lifetime warranty
  • Removes pathogenic bacteria
  • Removes Pharmaceuticals
  • Requires additional filters to remove flouride and arsenic (not an option with other water filters)
  • Comes in different sizes ranging from 1.5 gallons – 6 gallons
  • Ideal for larger families
  • Filters last a total of 6,000 gallons
  • Leaves beneficial minerals in the water

The Aquagear

  • 100% recyclable plastic (More eco friendly)
  • Smaller convenient travel size holding 8 cups at a time
  • Filter lasts up to 150 gallons
  • The filter includes arsenic and flouride filtration
  • Does not filter pathogenic bacteria or pharmaceuticals
  • Ideal for 1-2 people
  • Perfect water filter for houseplants
  • Easy to travel with when staying at hotels
  • Lower up-front cost
  • Leaves beneficial minerals in the water

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Both of these filters out compete any other competitor out there and both have been beneficial in my family. The most popular Berkey system in the Royal Berkey with a 3.25 gallon capacity. The additional fluoride and arsenic filters can be found here. Not every city contains arsenic which is naturally occurring but our bodies don’t need ANY arsenic even if there is an allowable limit in city water. Do check your city water reports and look to see if there is arsenic in your water.

The Aquagear water filter and the replacement filter

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