Berkey · Countertop filter · stop-sale order
Berkey Big Berkey: what it removes and what it costs
Model: Big Berkey BK4X2 (2.25 gal) gravity system
The Berkey Big Berkey is certified (NSF/ANSI 42) to reduce chlorine, only when fitted with Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements, not the Black Berkey elements it ships with. Berkey also claims PFAS, chloramine, VOCs and bacteria and viruses from lab tests that are not certification.
1
certified reductions we track
—
filters per gallon at rated life
Price checked 2026-10-23.
What the Berkey Big Berkey removes
"Certified" means a certifier (NSF, WQA, IAPMO or CSA) lists this exact product for that reduction claim; the listing is linked. "Brand test only" means Berkey cites a lab report but no certifier lists the claim. See certified vs. tested.
| Contaminant | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Certified | NSF listing, NSF/ANSI 42 ("Chlorine (taste & odor)"), only when fitted with Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements, not the Black Berkey elements it ships with |
| PFAS | Brand test only | Unnamed 'NABL, ISO 9000, ISO 17025 accredited third-party labs': "PFAS (PFOA/PFOS), VOCs, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides/herbicides, chloramine - Phoenix elements" |
| Chloramine | Brand test only | Unnamed 'NABL, ISO 9000, ISO 17025 accredited third-party labs': "PFAS (PFOA/PFOS), VOCs, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides/herbicides, chloramine - Phoenix elements" |
| VOCs | Brand test only | Unnamed 'NABL, ISO 9000, ISO 17025 accredited third-party labs': "PFAS (PFOA/PFOS), VOCs, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides/herbicides, chloramine - Phoenix elements" |
| Bacteria and viruses | Brand test only | Berkey says 'independent, EPA-approved laboratories' (lab not named): "Viruses (>99.999%) and pathogenic bacteria (>99.9999%) - Black Berkey elements" |
Not verified, either way (no certification or brand claim): Lead, Fluoride, Arsenic, Nitrate, Chromium 6, Mercury, Microplastics, Cysts, TDS, Iron, Copper, Uranium, 1,4-dioxane.
What it costs to run
Yearly cost = replacements per year × filter price, for each filter it uses; a filter is replaced at its gallon rating or its month limit, whichever comes first. Water use: drinking and cooking water (0.28 gallons per person a day, EPA's average adult intake).
| Household | Gallons a year | Filters a year | Total a year | Per gallon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 102 | — | — | — |
| 2 people | 204 | — | — | — |
| 4 people | 409 | — | — | — |
Replacement filters
| Filter | Rated life (gallons) | Rated life (months) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Berkey Elements BB9-2 (pair, ships standard) | — Source noteElement life not stated on the Big Berkey page fetched 2026-10-23; not filled from memory. berkeywater.com | — | — Source noteNo price shown on berkeywater.com (prices not displayed); retailer prices ignored per sourcing rules. |
| Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements PGF9-2 (pair, optional replacement) | 5,500 Source note2,750 gal per element, 5,500 gal per set of 2; may need replacing sooner depending on source water. berkeywater.com | — | — Source noteBrand page shows no price for PGF9-2. berkeywater.com |
Specs
- Type
- Countertop filter
- Price
- —
Source note
berkeywater.com product page showed no price on 2026-10-23 (price field empty; ordering via account manager). A search-engine snippet of the same official page cited $384.00, but this could not be confirmed on the live page. berkeywater.com
- Installation
- None
- Capacity
- 2.25 gal
Source note
Storage capacity about 2.25 gal (8.5 L) per brand page. berkeywater.com
- Needs power
- No
Compare the Berkey Big Berkey
Updates about the Berkey Big Berkey
- September 18, 2026 · Appeals court backs EPA stop-sale order on Black Berkey filters
Common questions
What does the Berkey Big Berkey remove?
The Berkey Big Berkey is certified (NSF/ANSI 42) to reduce chlorine, only when fitted with Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements, not the Black Berkey elements it ships with. Berkey also claims PFAS, chloramine, VOCs and bacteria and viruses from lab tests that are not certification.
Does the Berkey Big Berkey remove PFAS?
Berkey claims PFAS reduction from lab tests by Unnamed 'NABL, ISO 9000, ISO 17025 accredited third-party labs', but there is no certifier listing for it.
Data checked 2026-10-23. 102 filters tracked.