Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

Water systems that use water purification methods deliver pure water, such as Reverse Osmosis (R.O.), distillation, Berkey purification, and more. There are other purification methods, yet these are the most widely recognized.

Water systems use filtration methods such as adsorption, carbon, activated carbon, kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF), and particulate filtration. Many people tend to use the terms of water purification and water filtration. In the water business, they are not the same. The majority of the standard water filters use at least one water filtration and water purification method. There has always been a comparison between the Berkey Purification, Reverse Osmosis, and Distillation water purification methods.

These three purification process shares the same goal. All of them ensure every household to have easy access to safe and drinkable water.  However, as a consumer, you may ask yourself about the differences that set these three apart. It would be inconvenient for you to have all three water purification processes done inside your home. Thus, it would be best to decide which one would be perfect, convenient and reliable for you. 

In this article, you will see the differences between Berkey Purification, Reverse Osmosis, and Distillation. This article aims to help you have a clearer and better understanding of these three water purification methods. By the end of this article, you will be able to decide on which water purification process you would prefer finally. 

What Is Purified Water?

Purified water can sometimes be complicated because it defines several types of water, such as distilled water, deionized water, and even filtered water. But if you will know better, certain processes of making purified water can be quite different than how filtered water is made.

The dissolved solids in purified water can't surpass ten sections for each million. The water that meets this edge is naturally higher in purity than spring water, tap water, or filtered.

Water purification may sound as simple as the process of purifying water or removing what isn’t wanted from the water. Like filtered water, purified water methods can remove harmful contaminants. But some purified water systems use chemicals like iodine or chlorine in their water-cleaning processes rather than eliminating them. Additionally, some water purification systems like reverse osmosis remove beneficial minerals like magnesium and calcium.

What is Distilled Water?

Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

Distilled water is water boiled into steam and condensed back into liquid in a separate container. Impurities in the original water that do not boil below the boiling point of water remain in the original container. Thus, distilled water is one type of purified water.

Distilled vs Purified Water

The most complicated part of this is the way that distilled water is purified water. That is right—the procedure of distillation is one of the advances used to purify water. Reverse Osmosis is another innovation used to purify water.

The enormous difference is that boiling water consumes a large amount of energy. Consider it this: all the water must be boiled until there's no longer left (turned into steam). That is a ton of energy.

On the other hand, Reverse Osmosis innovation consumes far less energy. Commercial systems like ours used proficient energy pumps to play out their purification. And the final product is sufficient. The familiar hearsay about distilled water tasting level or used for steam irons are not genuine.

Distilled water was suggested for irons because the minerals that stuck up in little steam holes have been removed—which keeps your iron decent and clean. There's nothing wrong with drinking it. Read that once more—that is the thing that we begin with. We purify that water and expel over 99.5% of every possible polluting influence.

A composed and working purification system will deliver highly pure water without fail, regardless of varieties in the source water's quality. This isn't valid for spring water, tap water, or filtered water. Thus, purified water is seen as the target benchmark against which the purity of different waters is judged.

 

What is Filtered Water?

Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

Filtered water is characterized by the levels (or absence) of any contaminants found in the water. To meet the meaning of "purified water," water pollutants must be removed or lessened to low levels.

Water filtration systems typically remove more impurities than other methods. This is because commercial water filters are specifically designed to work with treated water that comes out of your tap at home, your office, or your business. Many water filtration systems use activated carbon that prevents unwanted, microscopic contaminants from entering your drinking water. Because most harmful water impurities are carbon-based, water filters can be extremely effective in keeping your drinking water safe and healthy.

 

Purified vs Filtered Water

Purified water is frequently mistaken for filtered water. Many individuals trust the two terms to be synonymous, yet this isn't the situation. While the two kinds of water are liable to some filtration (as is every spring water), the purified water is washed down and purified through different purification forms, reverse osmosis, distillation, or deionization.

The product result, "purified" water, is of fundamentally higher purity than either spring water, tap water, or filtered water. Purified water may begin from either a spring, surface, or groundwater source or specifically from the tap.

It doesn't make a difference. Since the purification procedure is intended to expel practically a wide range of contaminants, the nature of the source water has a small bearing on the nature of the last item. However, our source water meets the EPA minimum drinking water standards before any purification is even done.

On the other hand, filtered water is good in retaining such as calcium, zinc, and magnesium. It can also remove contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, mercury, lead, and arsenic. They reduce the amount of chlorine and other chemicals found in plain tap water. Lastly, filtered water from water filtration systems provides better tasting and smelling drinking water due to the removal of impurities and bacteria.  

Importance of a Clean and Drinkable Water

Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

Every household and person deserves the right to easy access to safe and drinkable water. However, given the different advancements and modernization in this generation, it is hard to access it. It is barely possible to be entirely sure about the safety levels of drinking waters that surround us.

Different kinds of water contaminants continue to grow in number, size, and form.  It is important to make sure that you and your loved ones have access to purified drinking water. Because as simple as clean and safe water can improve one’s lifestyle and health, in general. 

Consider the importance of water. Did you realize that water represents more than 70% of your body? 

Healthy water consumption can help us in many ways.

  • You can think better. A fully hydrated mind works better.
  • Your strength boosts. Did you realize that your muscles work better when your body is entirely hydrated?
  • Immunity - even your resistance or immune system can work better.
  • It flushes junk out of your system. A fully hydrated body is better at disposing of the things it doesn’t require.
  • You'd be surprised at the manner that you can have more energy when you drink enough amounts of water.

    There are many good motivations to take in a decent and enough supply of water. You can likely observe why it is essential to have clean water.

    Now, you know the importance of your drinking water, how may you keep it safe? Three well-recognized water purification methods are circling the globe these days. This article will be discussing each type of water purifying method— explaining its unique features, characteristics, methods, and advantages.

    BERKEY PURIFICATION

    Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

    First up, we have the Berkey Purification method. Many purification methods make up the Berkey Purification process. It has the assurance that your water would indeed be safe and drinkable.

    Berkey Purification offers several options for water purification methods. Each is designed to match your lifestyle and to bring about convenience to each household. 

    All these purification methods are combined to produce one powerful purification unit. What is outstanding about the Berkey Purification is that it is composed of 6 different media types. Because of that innovation, Microfiltration happens. 

    What is MICROFILTRATION?

    Microfiltration is the process of eliminating microscopic organisms from the water. For the case of the Berkey purification, the six different media types, altogether, create millions of small, tiny micropores on the filters. Because of that, a Torturous Path is developed. A Torturous Path makes it impossible for any microscopic contaminant to escape the filter. In that manner, pathogenic bacteria, protozoans, parasites, sediments, and other unwanted elements are trapped in the filter, which disables them to carry along contaminating the water. 

    Adsorption

    Microfiltration is not the unique advantage of the Berkey Purification. What makes it more astounding is its ability to "absorb" and "absorb." In short, adsorption is the second barrier that prevents unwanted elements from contaminating the drinking water. The way it works is that Adsorption blocks the microscopic pores of the filter to prevent contaminants smaller than the pores themselves from passing through. 

    Ion Exchange Process and Flow Rate

    Water contains heavy metal contaminants too. These various types of heavy metals are removed from the water through the process of an Ion Exchange. It attracts heavy metals and is immediately transformed because of the electrical bonding to the media. Lastly, if you observe, the flow rate for the water molecules to pass through the filter is slow.

    Records prove that it takes minutes for the water molecules to pass through the filters, unlike other competing processes, which take seconds to do so. The longer duration for the water molecules to pass through the filters shows the excellent removal rate of the filters when it comes to eliminating unwanted contaminants because these three methods combined give Berkey Purification a considerable advantage among other competing brands b.ecause only Berkey Purification can do so without using harmful chemicals. 

    Advantages:

    • Filter up to 99.99999% Microscopic organisms and 99.9999% level of viruses
    • Filters chlorine to indistinguishable levels.
    • Separates up to 95% lead and other heavy metals.
    • When the black Berkey filter is used as a part of conjunction with the available PF-2 channel, all unwanted contaminants are expelled, especially fluoride.
    • Low support systems—needs no costly hardware or more pipes
    • Minerals are not expelled from the water.
    • It is reasonable. Black Berkey filters will refine 3,000 gallons! Relying upon your family's water use, one filter should last you for a couple of years.
    • Berkey filtration systems can be utilized as a part of emergency circumstances. They can be utilized with water, including a lake or stream water.

    Disadvantages:

    • You have to refill the chamber, but once a day is enough for your family, and it's a simple errand for a 9-year-old.
    • When you need to expel fluoride from the water, you should buy an additional filter.
    • You need to find someplace on your counter to put it.

      REVERSE OSMOSIS

      Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

      As commonly defined, Reverse Osmosis is the process by which minerals and ions are removed from the water. This is done by applying a huge force as you push it through a specific membrane. You may still question, what happens if the contaminants fail to pass through this single membrane? Good question! Reverse Osmosis is also equipped with Sediment and Carbon Filters.

      What Contaminants Will It Remove From Water?

      Reverse Osmosis can remove up to 99%+ of the dissolved salts (ions), particles, colloids, organics, bacteria, and pyrogens from the feed water. However, an RO system should not be relied upon to remove 100% of bacteria and viruses. An RO membrane rejects contaminants based on their size and charge.

      Any contaminant with a molecular weight greater than 200 is likely rejected by a properly running RO system. Likewise, the greater the ionic charge of the contaminant, the more likely it will be unable to pass through the RO membrane.

      For example, a sodium ion has only one charge (monovalent) and is not rejected by the RO membrane and calcium, for instance, which has two charges. Likewise, this is why an RO system does not remove gases such as CO2 very well because they are not highly ionized (charged) while in solution and have a very low molecular weight. Because an RO system does not remove gases, the permeate water can have a slightly lower than normal pH level depending on CO2 levels in the feed water as the CO2 is converted to carbonic acid.

      Reverse Osmosis effectively treats brackish, surface, and groundwater for both large and small flows applications. Some examples of industries that use RO water include pharmaceutical, boiler feed water, food and beverage, metal finishing, and semiconductor manufacturing, to name a few.

      It is as simple as that, not at all complicated. However, as simple as it may sound, do not be fooled because Reverse Osmosis is capable of bringing much more than just simplicity to the table. There are several advantages to this particular water purification method.

      The Benefits of Considering Reverse Osmosis:
      1. Improves Taste - Reverse Osmosis can remove specific contaminants that cause the water to have an unwanted odor, taste, and even appearance. 
      2. Easy Maintenance - Reverse Osmosis has no complicated set-ups nor design. It easy to assemble and remove. Also, cleaning and replacing it is not difficult because it is only composed of a few replaceable parts.
      3. Eliminates Impurities - Reverse Osmosis is a water purification method that can remove various contaminants. Such as pesticides, sulfates, bacteria, arsenic, pharmaceutical, and more. It also contains a carbon filter that eliminates chlorine and chloramines that are found in the water. 
      4. Reverse Osmosis filtration is fully automated, reasonably practical, and ensures efficiency and safety.

      The Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis:

      1. It is costly -In-home set-ups can be an expensive alternative. They can cost a lot to set up and keep up as filters should be taken over much of the time and are not reasonable.
      2. Expels minerals from the water— such as salt, lead, manganese, iron, and calcium, as well as certain chemicals.
      3. Waste of Water- This system wastes a considerable measure of water. You wind up with a significant measure of water waste contrasted with separated water— about three gallons of water for each gallon it filters.

      DISTILLATION

      Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

      It is safe to say that a passing rate of the readers would understand what distillation is all about. This particular water purification process has been around for quite some time now. It has also been used widely and popularly across many places. If you are looking for something cheap, quick, and still effective, distillation might be the right choice for you. 

      However, the offside of distillation is the certainty of removing contaminants surely and safely. Why? Because distillation is comparatively easy than the other two, its chances of being completely effective are low. 

      Distillation, scientifically, is the process of separating one type of mixture from a different kind of mixture — all depending on the condition that changes the phases or levels of the components involved. 

      How Does It Work?

      Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

       

      There are two primary components used to fulfill this process. These are having a source of heat and a condenser.  So, what will happen is that the water will turn into vapor upon boiling the untreated water. As it happens, everything else (the contaminants) is left behind. Then, the water vapor would go directly to the condensing coil as it returns to its liquid form again.  The tricky part about distillation is that you have to make sure that the heat you are using to boil the water should not go beyond the minimum temperature required to boil water because that may cause other unwanted elements to vaporize.

      Simple distillation is a procedure by which two liquids with different boiling points can be separated. Simple distillation can be used effectively to separate liquids with at least fifty degrees difference in their boiling points.

      As the liquid being distilled is heated, the vapors that form will be the richest in the component of the mixture that boils at the lowest temperature. Purified compounds will boil and thus turn into vapors over a relatively small temperature range (2 or 3°C); by carefully watching the temperature in the distillation flask, it is possible to affect a reasonably good separation.

      As distillation progresses, the concentration of the lowest boiling component will steadily decrease. Eventually, the temperature within the apparatus will begin to change. A pure compound is no longer being distilled. The temperature will continue to increase until the boiling point of the next-lowest-boiling compound is approached.

      When the temperature again stabilizes, another pure fraction of the distillate can be collected. This fraction of distillate will be primarily the compound that boils at the second-lowest temperature. This process can be repeated until all the fractions of the original mixture have been separated.

      Advantages:

      • It decreases the heavy metals and fluoride in your drinking water.
      • It kills any microscopic organisms or bacteria hiding the water.

      Disadvantages:

      • Many hazardous contaminants are not expelled from water since they vaporize at the same or lower temperature as the water.
      • Expels minerals from the water.
      • It is large and costly to set up.
      • It is highly efficient, wasting almost five gallons for each gallon of water that is filtered.

        Conclusion

        Not all filters and purification methods are created equal. Some take out lead and heavy metals, some filter for taste. So you need to do a little research. Ensure that you are getting a filter and method appropriate for you, the one that will meet your needs.

        Berkey Water Filter vs Reverse Osmosis vs Distilled Water

        The answer to the question, "What is the best innovation to purify water" will differ depending upon many components. These incorporate water quality, temperature, end-product specification, pH, and different parameters. All details needed to explain each method have been provided. The best feature and efficiency of the gravity filtration process used in the Berkey water purification system has been proven to stand the test of time.



        Older Post Newer Post



        Berkey Water Systems at The Most Affordable Prices

        We offer Free Shipping on orders over $99 shipped within the continental US lower 48 states.