Can you trust the water that trickles out of your kitchen faucet when looking for something refreshing and safe to drink? Not many people do, which is why the market is flooded with various water filtration products designed to purify your drinking water and remove harmful impurities.
With so many options available, it can be tricky to determine which ones you can trust and which ones don’t measure up.
Two of the most popular and trusted tap water filtration brands out there are Berkey and Brita. In this article, we will discuss both and compare them to help you decide which is best for you.
Berkey and Brita Water Filters
If you are looking for a well-performing, reputable, and durable water filter but are unsure which one to go with, check out these two popular brands.
Berkey Water Filters
Berkey water filter systems have been purifying and improving Canada’s drinking water since 2011. They remove waterborne contaminants in each of their five different size options. The sleek metallic style is modern and fits in with most decor, and they are well-known for their durable and long-lasting design.
Brita Water Filters
Brita originated in Germany, and now has manufacturing companies all over the globe. This brand offers a design more suited for easy transport and cleans and purifies tap water with smaller filters that require more frequent changing than Berkey.
The Brita filtration system provides a well-thought-out design that is versatile and affordable.
Berkey vs Brita: The Showdown
Now that you know a bit about each product, let’s take a closer look at each option’s features and compare.
What Contaminates Do They Remove?
First and foremost, we want to discuss what types of contaminants each filter removes since this is the main reason people purchase water filters in the first place.
Berkey Water Filters
The Berkey water filter system removes 99.9% of pathogens, including viruses and bacteria that make you sick. Other contaminants removed by Berkey filters include:
- Heavy metals, like mercury, lead, aluminum, and cobalt
- Inorganic minerals such as chlorine
- Volatile organic compounds and solvents
- Colouring matter
- Trihalomethanes
- Pharmaceutical drugs contaminants
- Pesticides
- And more!
Brita Water Filters
Brita water filters do not remove as many contaminants as Berkey, but they do an adequate job of filtering drinking water, providing clean, fresh H20 that is safe for consumption.
Some contaminates Brita filters out include:
- Some pharmaceutical contaminants (lower percentage)
- 99% of lead
- Select pesticides
- Reduces the taste and colour of chlorine
Designs and Size Options
Both Berkey and Brita offer various sizes and designs. However, their selection differs significantly.
Berkey Designs and Size Options
Berkey doesn’t have a huge selection of designs, but it does offer five different size options for their primary filter system model. These sizes include:
- Travel Berkey Water Purifier for 1-2 People (5.7 litres or 1.5 gallons)
- Big Berkey Water Filter for 1-3 People (8.5 litres or 2.25 gallons)
- Royal Berkey Water Purifier for 3-8 People (12.3 litres of 3.25 gallons)
- Imperial Berkey Water Purifier for 8-20 People (17 litres of 4.50 gallons)
- Crown Berkey Water Purifier for 20-100 People (22.7 litres or 6 gallons)
Berkey also offers a water bottle option for convenient water filtration on the go.
Brita Designs and Size Options
Brita offers various sizes and colour options on their standard pitcher dispensers. You can also get Brita filters for countertop systems, water bottles, and faucet attachments.
- 12 Cup Capacity
- 10 Cup Capacity
- 6 Cup Capacity
Flow Rates
The flow rate of each product tells us which model will produce clean water in the shortest amount of time. The size of the system will alter the overall flow rate. Berkey products offer larger capacity options, which provide faster flow rates compared to Brita.
- Berkey water filter flow rate: 1 to 4 gallons per hour
- Brita water filter flow rate: 1.2 to 1.8 gallons per hour
With the limited capacity and reduced flow rates of the Brita filtration pitchers, you will find yourself refilling your drinking water more often.
Because of Berkey’s faster rates, you can provide fresh, clean water to more people at one time and in a quick time frame.
Filter Durability and Lifespan
The size and design won’t matter if the product doesn’t hold up for long. When choosing between two different water filtration systems, you want a brand that uses durable materials and is made to last.
Not only does the product itself have to last, but so does the filter, which will save you time and money on replacements.
Berkey Water Filters Durability and Lifespan
While Berkey’s water filtration systems have a higher upfront cost than Brita, that doesn’t mean you are spending more money overall.
Berkey’s Big Berkey with 2 Black Berkey Elements will cost you $523 up front, with a replacement filter adding $237.
With that said, one Berkey filter cleans 22,700 litres (5,997 gallons) of water in its lifetime.
Total Cost: $760 for 22,700 litres
Brita Water Filters Durability and Lifespan
Brita water filters cost far less than Berkeys up front. The standard 6-cup pitcher will run about $37. A replacement filter will cost you around $18. However, these filters only last roughly two months, or 151 litres (40 gallons).
If you choose to buy a Brita, you will spend less money upfront but will need to purchase replacement filters and parts frequently.
Total Cost: $55 for 151 litres or $2,700 (150 filters) for 22,700 litres (equivalent to one Berkey filter)
Which Brand Is Better?
You must determine what you are looking for specifically in a water filtration system to choose between Berkey versus Brita.
If you want to pay less money up front for a filter system that is portable, comes in various colours, and functions as a pitcher, the Brita brand option is right for you.
If you are willing to spend more money up front to get a durable product with a longer life span that removes more contaminants, then Berkey should be your top choice. Long term, Berkey Water Filters are far more economical than a Brita because the filters last on average 4-5 years, instead of monthly filter changes with a Brita.
If you have any questions or are interested in purchasing a Berkey water filtration system, check out our website.
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which is the better product based on these features and your unique needs.
