PREP BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: AS OF January 1st, No Berkey Products can be shipped to California

[Quisling]

I am also amazed by what they add also, and now they add chloramine because it lasts longer when just chlorine tends to dissipate in the pipes.

Great points!

theberkeyguy

Chloramine was first used in the San Francisco water system in 1935. It was discontinued in 1944 due to an ammonia shortage in WWII. It was reintroduced into the system in 2004.

The re-introduction of chloramine in 2004 was dues to new EPA regulations that required public utility water systems to drastically lower their maximum trihalomethane (THM) content.

THM's are the natural chemical reaction byproducts of mixing water and chlorine. When the new standards came out, several public systems went to Chloramine, which is a compound of chlorine and ammonia, because it produces less THM's during the water disinfection process.

That's the simple version. It's way more complicated.

 

[DrJerry]

I've been using mine for a couple of years. It gets the chlorine taste out of the water. Our local water normally tastes like a swimming pool.

 

[theberkeyguy]

Chloramine was first used in the San Francisco water system in 1935. It was discontinued in 1944 due to an ammonia shortage in WWII. It was reintroduced into the system in 2004.

The re-introduction of chloramine in 2004 was dues to new EPA regulations that required public utility water systems to drastically lower their maximum trihalomethane (THM) content.

THM's are the natural chemical reaction byproducts of mixing water and chlorine. When the new standards came out, several public systems went to Chloramine, which is a compound of chlorine and ammonia, because it produces less THM's during the water disinfection process.

That's the simple version. It's way more complicated.

Thanks so much for this post, as i did not know that the history of Chloramine went back that far, but i did know they recently started putting it in the water.

theberkeyguy

 

[theberkeyguy]

Just updating this thread to get the word out to let people know that the CA changes are about 30 days away.

Be sure to tell family and friends you may have that are in California.

Thanks so much

theberkeyguy

 

[Lone Wolf]

BTTT

lw

 

[theberkeyguy]

BTTT

lw

Just curious, what does BTTT mean?

theberkeyguy

 

[Double_A]

Just curious, what does BTTT mean?

theberkeyguy

Bumped to the top (of the thread list)

BTTT is a method used to get a thread that has fallen to the back pages, back into the front and center.

Typically a person replies with a "BTTT" and no further message.

 

[Avatar]

I'm just curious as to why the Stainless Steel Berkeys (it is just the stainless ones right?) are not for sale in Iowa.
I've never been able to find a good answer for that question.

 

[lectrickitty]

I don't know how I lived before I got my berkey. I not only use it for my drinking water, but any water I cook with. I wish I'd have got the shower filter when I ordered mine. When I go visit family I can smell the chlorine in their water. I hate having to shower at their house cause I can smell the chlorine in my hair. That smell gives me the creeps! I keep thinking I'll get the shower filter and carry it with me when I go visiting. I already carry the travel berkey with me and run their tap water thru it before I drink any.

 

[theberkeyguy]

I'm just curious as to why the Stainless Steel Berkeys (it is just the stainless ones right?) are not for sale in Iowa.
I've never been able to find a good answer for that question.

Good question, from talking with New Mellenium over the years, and checking IA law, All systems and combination of systems must be tested by the state of IA or have the manufacturer tested by them, and that costs just for the testing and first year certification, over 100,000 dollars with all the combinations the berkey have.

theberkeyguy

 

[theberkeyguy]

Bumped to the top (of the thread list)

BTTT is a method used to get a thread that has fallen to the back pages, back into the front and center.

Typically a person replies with a "BTTT" and no further message.

Thanks for the BTTT, it is about 3 weeks till the end of the year, and then we will no longer be able to ship to CA. Please let your friends and family know that may be in CA.

theberkeyguy

 

[bluetick]

My well (drinking) water has a high nitrate content. So far in my research it appears that nitrates can only be removed or diluted enough through reverse osmosis or mixing with water with no nitrates. Can one of the Berkey models remove nitrates?

I have been buying bottled water for myself, but have concerns for the dogs and poultry to be added in the spring.

 

[theberkeyguy]

My well (drinking) water has a high nitrate content. So far in my research it appears that nitrates can only be removed or diluted enough through reverse osmosis or mixing with water with no nitrates. Can one of the Berkey models remove nitrates?

I have been buying bottled water for myself, but have concerns for the dogs and poultry to be added in the spring.

The black berkey elements are known to reduce nitrates and nitrites.
http://directive21.com/accessories-black-berkey-purification-element.html

theberkeyguy

 

[HDC]

The black berkey elements are known to reduce nitrates and nitrites.
http://directive21.com/accessories-black-berkey-purification-element.html

theberkeyguy

Will the berkey remove arsenic? We have trace amounts in our city water supply.

Thanks

 

[theberkeyguy]

Will the berkey remove arsenic? We have trace amounts in our city water supply.

Thanks

The Black Berkey elements do not remove or reduce Arsenic, but the PF2 Fluoride and Arsenic filters reduce it:
http://directive21.com/accessories-berkey-pf2.html

They attach to the black berkey elements, and would be considered a post filter, as the water travels through the black berkey elements first, and then into the PF2 filters.

theberkeyguy

 

[theberkeyguy]

Another week has passed by, and there are only 2 more weeks left on Shipping Berkey products to CA.

Please let your family and friends know who may be affected, or please post on other message boards you may be a member of.

Thanks so much,
theberkeyguy

 

[Red Baron]

I still don't know why some water filters are going to be sold in Califonia but not Berkeys?

Why give up the largest state market in the United States on January 1?

 

[theberkeyguy]

I still don't know why some water filters are going to be sold in Califonia but not Berkeys?

Why give up the largest state market in the United States on January 1?

From what we have seen, CA is a huge market, but also has some of the worst regulations.

theberkeyguy

 

[Kent]

I make tipis but I will not make and send any tipis to Kalifornia because they have to be made of fire retardant material. I made one but I will never do that again. The chemical they use to make it fire proof is a powder that leaves a metallic taste in my mouth when I sewed it, this was even with a dust mask. My dogs usually try to lay down on the canvas when I am sewing but with this stuff they wouldn't even come close to it.

I did not know what a tipis was untill I looked it up and found the other spelling. Interesting line of work.

 

[twincougars]

I have had a Big Berkey in service for several years now.

Berkey Guy.

Please post a result when you get one.

lw

I just got one a week ago. Big mother! I still truck well water from my cabin to my house in town, but I got this just in case things go to pot and I have to get my water from our creeks (one in front yard and another one in the back yard). It is very slow, though. We have the one with two filters. Four would double the flow rate I suspect. IT took the better part of a day just to get two gallons, though if I kept feeding it water (higher water level = higher pressure through the filters = faster flow rate) it would have gone faster, but who wants to have to feed the darn thing every half hour? The advantage is you don't need a presurized water system to force the water through the filter, you just pour in the water and leave it. AND, the filters are cleanable and reusable, unlike the compacted charcoal ones like my Multipure Filters.

 

[theberkeyguy]

I just got one a week ago. Big mother! I still truck well water from my cabin to my house in town, but I got this just in case things go to pot and I have to get my water from our creeks (one in front yard and another one in the back yard). It is very slow, though. We have the one with two filters. Four would double the flow rate I suspect. IT took the better part of a day just to get two gallons, though if I kept feeding it water (higher water level = higher pressure through the filters = faster flow rate) it would have gone faster, but who wants to have to feed the darn thing every half hour? The advantage is you don't need a presurized water system to force the water through the filter, you just pour in the water and leave it. AND, the filters are cleanable and reusable, unlike the compacted charcoal ones like my Multipure Filters.

If you have the white ceramic filters, the flow rate should be higher. Feel free to use a scotch rite pad on the filters, and see if that makes the flow rate increase.

If you have black berkey elements, try priming them again, as the flow rate should be faster.

theberkeyguy

 

[twincougars]

If you have the white ceramic filters, the flow rate should be higher. Feel free to use a scotch rite pad on the filters, and see if that makes the flow rate increase.

If you have black berkey elements, try priming them again, as the flow rate should be faster.

theberkeyguy

Can you give a run down on the different kinds of Berkey filter elements and their uses? I hope I have the right kind. I want to filter creek water if it comes to that, but in the meantime, filter tap water to get out the chlorine and flouride. My filter came with the white elements. BTW, the different languages of instructions on the box were English, French and ARABIC! No Spanish...suprising since most stuff, if it has any foreign language instructions, includes Spanish...and rarely Arabic (at least I think it was Arabic--I call it NOODLE writing...looks like a bunch of dangling noodles).

 

[Lone Wolf]

I just got one a week ago. Big mother! I still truck well water from my cabin to my house in town, but I got this just in case things go to pot and I have to get my water from our creeks (one in front yard and another one in the back yard). It is very slow, though. We have the one with two filters. Four would double the flow rate I suspect. IT took the better part of a day just to get two gallons, though if I kept feeding it water (higher water level = higher pressure through the filters = faster flow rate) it would have gone faster, but who wants to have to feed the darn thing every half hour? The advantage is you don't need a presurized water system to force the water through the filter, you just pour in the water and leave it. AND, the filters are cleanable and reusable, unlike the compacted charcoal ones like my Multipure Filters.

We have the "white" filters.

I think Wise Owl, has the dark ones. She replaced the white ones from I think age.

We filter well water through the Burkey. It has a good flow rate. Not at first though. It took a little time for the filters to become "saturated"

If and when you filter creek or ditch water through the Burkey, Run that water through a straining process first, like a coffee filter, then through the Burkey, after you have a chance to boil it or chlorinate it.

Chlorine may be filtered out by the Burkey, but by then it will have done it's job.

lw

 

[theberkeyguy]

There is only one more week till the ban on Berkey's to CA starts. Please let your family and friends in CA know about the changes. We will be shipping out orders during the last week of the year.

Merry Christmas,
theberkeyguy

 

[twincougars]

If i have one kind of filter, and I need to add another kind, do I have to buy one of those big cylinders to put the other filters in and stack one on top of the other? BTW, you can make you own Berkey using the method at http://alpharubicon.com/kids/homemadeberkeydaire.htm

but personally I would be concerned about chemicals from the plastic getting into the water.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Bttt

lw

 

[theberkeyguy]

If i have one kind of filter, and I need to add another kind, do I have to buy one of those big cylinders to put the other filters in and stack one on top of the other? BTW, you can make you own Berkey using the method at http://alpharubicon.com/kids/homemadeberkeydaire.htm

but personally I would be concerned about chemicals from the plastic getting into the water.

We have heard from a few people that made their own systems, but have had problems with mold.

theberkeyguy

 

[theberkeyguy]

Just a few days left, people in California are getting better prepared and have called us to order Berkey filters.

We are getting out orders the day they are ordered, so there should be no wait for those in California.

theberkeyguy

 

[blueridge]

Kali is truly a magical kinda place - where logic & reason no longer need apply.

 

[theberkeyguy]

Kali is truly a magical kinda place - where logic & reason no longer need apply.

They will no doubt pass some pretty weird laws over the next couple of years.

theberkeyguy

 

[theberkeyguy]

Last post about the California ban on Berkey's, feel free to put your orders in today.

theberkeyguy