Berkey Water Filter History

History of the Gravity Water Filter:

Royal Doulton ~> British Berkefeld ~> Berkey Water Purifiers!

(New Millennium Concepts)

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1835… London, England.  Queen Victoria recognized the increasing health dangers of the drinking water supply.  Cholera and typhoid epidemics were commonplace.

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She requested John Doulton (of later to become Royal Doulton), to produce a water filter with his ceramic making capabilities.  Using various earth and clay materials, he created the first gravity water filter stoneware, Doulton water filters.  With her satisfaction in the filter, Queen Victoria bestowed upon Doulton the right to apply the Royal Crest to each of his units.

gravity fed stoneware Doulton water filters, Doulton first filter
Doulton Manganour

1862… John Doulton’s son, Henry Doulton introduced the Doulton Manganour (new, efficient purifying medium which could be readily renewed), carbon water filter.  With Louis Pasteur’s new findings about bacteria in this same period, a more advanced understanding of bacteria made it possible for the creation of a porous ceramic which could filter out tiny organisms.  Gravity fed water filtration!  And the Berkey…?  We’re getting there…

Henry Doulton

1901… King Edward VII knighted Henry Doulton and honored his company use to the word ROYAL in reference to its products.  Hence the name “Royal Berkey”, one of the larger gravity water filter units available today.  Doulton’s water filters gained popularity and wide spread use by hospitals, laboratories and residential water filtration throughout the world as far away as Africa and the Middle east.

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ceramic water filter element, berkefeld element

Throughout the decades, the Doulton company modified the ceramic filters by adding small, pure silver particles (anti-microbial), which made the filter elements self-sterilizing and they registered the trade name “British Berkefeld”.  Once these improvements were made, the gravity filters became popular with, and trusted by relief organizations such as UNICEF, the Peace Corps, Red Cross and used in over 140 countries throughout the world.

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1998…Through a distribution partnership with British Berkefeld, the US based company, “New Millennium Concepts”, began distributing their products locally.  NML pushed the envelope of the product and created the “Black Berkey” purification element.  Black Berkey purification elements are more powerful than any other gravity filter element currently available.  They were tested with 10,000 times the amount of pathogens required for standard protocol and removed 100% of the pathogens (tested under an electron microscope), setting a new standard in water purification.

This advanced technology was developed, refined, and proven through years of diligent, investigative research and testing performed by water purification specialists, researchers and engineers.  The flow rate or time of exposure through the exclusive Black Berkey elements has been calculated to yield the greatest volume removal of toxic chemicals and pathogenic bacteria found in nature and caused by pollution from industry and agriculture.  The Black Berkey purification element used today is an evolution of the ceramic filter technology John Doulton and Henry Doulton of Royal Doulton manufactured.

We purchase direct from New Millennium Concepts, ensuring the best quality, most economical, and fully guaranteed products get to you.

Proven Performance in the Home and Field Means You Can Feel Confident

Thousands of families like yours around the world depend on Berkey gravity water filters in their homes to provide them with safe drinking water.  With an additional inline filter, the Berkey systems can remove fluoride and arsenic as well.

Why would I be worried about Fluoride in my water?  Reduced IQ, possible bone cancer… click here to learn more.

Thousands are in use worldwide by Urban and Rural Households, Cottages, Sustainability Projects, Hunting and Fishing Camps, Red Cross, UNICEF, Eco-Villages, The Peace Corps and other relief, aid and mission organizations.

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High Standards and Excellent Service Help Keep You Safe and Satisfied
New Millennium Concepts (Berkey Water Filtration), is characterized by the pursuit of:

  • Improved technology
  • Rigorous quality control
  • Friendly and courteous customer service
  • High quality products

British Berkefeld Testing and Certifications

The Doulton “British Berkefeld” holds Certification, Accreditation, or Membership with the following agencies:

  • ISO 9002 Quality Standard
  • Department of Health (Toronto, Canada)
  • Water Research Council (UK)
  • National Sanitation Foundation standards 42 and 53
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Water Quality Association
  • Spectrum Labs (Minneapolis, USA)
  • British 5750 Quality Standard
  • England’s Water Research council (WRc) Performance Standards
  • California Department of Health
  • Over 50 Independent Laboratories Worldwide

Black Berkey Testing and Certifications

Designed over a decade ago, the Black Berkey, used in all Berkey purifier units, is a trademarked (yes, secret) combination of approximately 6 different types of media (layers) designed to take filtration to the next level.

The Black Berkey purification element formulation has been tested by:

  • State & EPA accredited laboratories to exceed EPA & ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) protocol and thus are rated as purifiers
  • Tested by the Department of Toxicology and Environmental Science, Louisiana University
  • University of Arizona, Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science
  • Analytical Services, Inc. (ASI) Microbiological Testing, Research and Consulting

See the independent lab test results.

Sources:

  • www.bigberkey.com
  • www.britishberkefeld.com/
  • www.doulton.ca/ceramicwaterfilter.html
  • www.berkeywater.com/
  • www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_spa_filters