Questions as I am about to purchase a Berkey

[MrThirteen]

Well I have moved to my Parents in Idaho. (see post: http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=26997.msg388113#msg388113)  So Goodbye California!

Now to order a system. I have questions, but I will set them up in a new post as this one is regarding shipping to CA!

Ok so I am buying a Berkey to supply ultimately a family of 5 clean water.  It will temporarily supply water for 7 as I am living with my parents until we locate a new home.

I am not sure what size Berkey to get.  What would you suggest.

Also I am not sure what filter configuration I should put in.  I ultimately want to filter out floride and I understand that takes a different or additional filter.  Is there  a tool I could use to figure out how to configure my Berkey?

Thanks for the help,

13

[theberkeyguy]

Thanks for reaching out to me, I recommend the Royal Berkey System:
http://www.directive21.com/products/royal-berkey-system

Fluoride can be a great option if you have fluoride added to your water.

theberkeyguy

[MrThirteen]

Sorry for the late reply... Dad and Mom have had some health issues and I just lost track of what I was doing.

I just tried to order the Royal as suggested however it states: "Royal Berkey System (Ships Jan. 2015)"

Does this mean the Royal is out of stock or did I pick the wrong one?

Thank you,

13

[theberkeyguy]

We expect to ship it in January, as demand is currently high.

Jeff

[MrThirteen]

Jeff,

I tried to order the royal Berkey and had some questions about the options...  I called the 877-886-3653 that is listed at the top of the page, but when transferred, it went to a voicemail box that has not been setup yet message.

I'll ask the questions here.

I know I want to do Fluoride filtration, so I added the PF2 Filter, I suppose I have to add this somewhere in the system. 
The Royal states it comes with 2 Black Berkey Elements.  Does the Royal take 2 elements at a time?  Or is it 1 in the berkey and 1 spare?

How much water can you put through a set of Black Berkey Elements before you have to change them?

Also, I was curious how the Berkey will handle the contaminants in this water test results list:
TEST RESULTS (2013)

Contaminant

Violation Y/N
Level Detected
Unit Measurement
MCLG
MCL
Likely Source of Contamination

Microbiological Contaminants

1. Total Coliform Bacteria
N
ND
Naturally present in the environment

Radioactive Contaminants

1. Radium 226 ('10)
N
.344
PCI/L
0
5.0
Erosion of natural deposits

2. Radium 238 ('10)
N
.09-.645
PCI/L
0
5.0
Erosion of natural deposits

3. Combined Radium
(-226 &-228)
N
0.09-0.757
PCI/L
0
5.0
Erosion of natural deposits

4. Gross Alpha including Radon & U
N
0.881
PCI/L
0
15.0
Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganic Contaminants

1. Copper ('10)
N
0.067
ppm
1.3
1.3
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

2. Fluoride ('10)
N
0.37-0.63
ppm
4
4
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

3. Lead ('10)
N
0.002
ppm
0
0.015
Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

4. Nitrate ('12) (as Nitrogen)
N
0.80ND 2.39 1.98ND
ppm
10
10
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

5.. Barium ('10)
N
0.01-0.3
ppm
2.0
2
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits.

6..Chromium
N
0.00195
ppm
0.05
0.05
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines

7. Arsenic ('10)
N
0.001
ppm
0.01
0.01
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production water

Thanks for the help,

13

[MrThirteen]

FYI, after watching a few youtube videos I had some process questions that I had in my head resolved.  I went ahead and ordered:
Berkey Light Water Purifier × 1
Additional Options ($12.50):
    Black Berkey Primer
Additional Options ($30.50):
    PF2 Fluoride Filter Set

The stand on the base will help in my physical location and allow my wife to be "on-board" with the water unit.  Now to convince her to use only filtered water even for coffee and cooking of foods. 1 step at a time. Habits die hard.

[theberkeyguy]

Jeff,

I tried to order the royal Berkey and had some questions about the options...  I called the 877-886-3653 that is listed at the top of the page, but when transferred, it went to a voicemail box that has not been setup yet message.

I'll ask the questions here.

I know I want to do Fluoride filtration, so I added the PF2 Filter, I suppose I have to add this somewhere in the system. 
The Royal states it comes with 2 Black Berkey Elements.  Does the Royal take 2 elements at a time?  Or is it 1 in the berkey and 1 spare?

How much water can you put through a set of Black Berkey Elements before you have to change them?

Also, I was curious how the Berkey will handle the contaminants in this water test results list:
TEST RESULTS (2013)

Contaminant

Violation Y/N
Level Detected
Unit Measurement
MCLG
MCL
Likely Source of Contamination

Microbiological Contaminants

1. Total Coliform Bacteria
N
ND
Naturally present in the environment

Radioactive Contaminants

1. Radium 226 ('10)
N
.344
PCI/L
0
5.0
Erosion of natural deposits

2. Radium 238 ('10)
N
.09-.645
PCI/L
0
5.0
Erosion of natural deposits

3. Combined Radium
(-226 &-228)
N
0.09-0.757
PCI/L
0
5.0
Erosion of natural deposits

4. Gross Alpha including Radon & U
N
0.881
PCI/L
0
15.0
Erosion of natural deposits

Inorganic Contaminants

1. Copper ('10)
N
0.067
ppm
1.3
1.3
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

2. Fluoride ('10)
N
0.37-0.63
ppm
4
4
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

3. Lead ('10)
N
0.002
ppm
0
0.015
Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

4. Nitrate ('12) (as Nitrogen)
N
0.80ND 2.39 1.98ND
ppm
10
10
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits

5.. Barium ('10)
N
0.01-0.3
ppm
2.0
2
Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; Erosion of natural deposits.

6..Chromium
N
0.00195
ppm
0.05
0.05
Discharge from petroleum and metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from mines

7. Arsenic ('10)
N
0.001
ppm
0.01
0.01
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronics production water

Thanks for the help,

13

The Royal Berkey comes with 2 Black Berkey Elements but can hold up to 4 Elements at a time.
You can put through up to 6000 gallons into a Black Berkey Element before the set needs to be replaced.

The Berkey Systems with the PF2 Filters reduce or remove most of the contaminants listed, check this independant test that was done also:
http://www.naturalnews.com/047373_Big_Berkey_water_filter_ProPur_lab_tests.html

theberkeyguy

[MrThirteen]

Bought a Light Berkey and LOVE IT.  The water tastes so much better now!

I drink far more water now just because I love the taste of fresh clean water. (Having a Sport Berkey helps while out and about as well.)

I have questions about use and storage, but I will start a new thread for that.

Thanks again,

13