1. CVR Labs Chemical, VOC and Metals Report
Addresses chemical parameters, including selected volatile organic compounds and metals.
View the CVR Labs reportBerkey® Filter Test Results: Phoenix & Black Berkey® Evidence
Berkey® Filter Test Evidence
Review independent laboratory evidence for both Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements and Black Berkey® Elements. Phoenix results appear first, followed by Black Berkey® testing and a side-by-side comparison of evidence for PFAS and other contaminants.
This page summarizes selected findings and links directly to the complete laboratory reports. Always review the original reports for challenge concentrations, analytical methods, detection limits, service volume, and complete results.
Phoenix + Black Berkey® evidence 200+ substances included in testing PFAS tested through 1,500 liters Phoenix PGF9-2 NSF/ANSI 42 listed Berkey® Phoenix configurations listed under 42 & 372
Evaluating Phoenix Gravity filters for your Berkey® system? Use the test data below to review contaminant-specific performance, then check the Phoenix product page for current specifications, compatibility, and ordering information.
>99.50% Minimum lead reduction calculated from 0.2 mg/L influent to below 0.001 mg/L effluent in the March 2025 CVR Labs test
<0.005 µg/L Reported PFOA and PFOS effluent through 1,500 liters
>96.69% / >95.00% Minimum chloramine and free-chlorine reduction from displayed values
75.50% Initial fluoride reduction in the April 2026 laboratory test
Important distinction: Independent laboratory testing and product certification are different. The Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element PGF9-2 is listed by NSF under NSF/ANSI 42 as a filter cartridge component for chlorine reduction. NSF also lists Travel Berkey®, Big Berkey®, and Royal Berkey® systems featuring Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements under NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine reduction and taste and odor reduction, and under NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 for applicable lead-content requirements. Standard 372 addresses lead content in product materials; it is not a certification of lead reduction from drinking water. References to NSF/ANSI 53, NSF/ANSI 401, EPA procedures, or other protocols in laboratory reports describe testing methods or criteria and do not indicate that the product is certified to those standards.
Part 1: Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Test Evidence
Phoenix Gravity is presented first because it is the current primary replacement option for compatible Berkey® gravity-fed systems. The Phoenix evidence below includes current independent laboratory reports covering PFAS, lead, heavy metals, chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, and other tested substances.
What Has Been Tested?
The published reports address individual contaminants or groups of contaminants using challenge water prepared for laboratory evaluation. Depending on the report, analytical work included metals analysis, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and other recognized laboratory techniques.
- PFAS compounds, including PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFDA, PFHpA, PFHxS and PFNA
- Heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium, cadmium, aluminum, copper, iron and others
- Chlorine, free chlorine, chloramines, chloride and disinfection byproducts
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other organic contaminants evaluated in the published laboratory reports
- Pharmaceuticals, emerging compounds, pesticides, herbicides and selected industrial chemicals
- Nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, petroleum compounds and selected radiologicals
Phoenix Gravity: Selected Quantified Test Results
The table below combines selected quantified findings from the April 20, 2026, Atom Testing Laboratory report and the March 12, 2025, CVR Labs report for the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements. The lead result is from the CVR Labs report; the other rows shown are from the April 2026 Atom report. Reduction percentages are independently recalculated from the displayed concentrations using (influent − effluent) ÷ influent × 100.
Why some figures differ from the PDFs: Several percentages printed in the laboratory documentation do not mathematically match the challenge and effluent values displayed beside them. To avoid repeating those discrepancies, this page uses direct calculations from the displayed concentrations. When an effluent value is reported below a detection or reporting limit, the result is presented as a conservative minimum using that stated limit.
| Contaminant | Influent concentration | Effluent concentration | Recalculated reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 200 µg/L | <2 µg/L | >99.00% |
| Antimony | 21 µg/L | <0.5 µg/L | >97.62% |
| Arsenic | 200 µg/L | <0.5 µg/L | >99.75% |
| Beryllium | 200 µg/L | <0.2 µg/L | >99.90% |
| Bismuth | 50 µg/L | 0.3 µg/L | 99.40% |
| Boron | 20 µg/L | <1 µg/L | >95.00% |
| Barium | 20 µg/L | <1 µg/L | >95.00% |
| Cadmium | 20 µg/L | <0.2 µg/L | >99.00% |
| Chromium | 200 µg/L | 7.2 µg/L | 96.40% |
| Copper | 2,000 µg/L | 40.8 µg/L | 97.96% |
| Iron | 1,500 µg/L | 25.9 µg/L | 98.27% |
| Lead (CVR Labs, March 2025) | 200 µg/L | <1 µg/L | >99.50% |
| Manganese | 500 µg/L | <0.5 µg/L | >99.90% |
| Mercury | 10 µg/L | <0.1 µg/L | >99.00% |
| Nickel | 100 µg/L | <0.5 µg/L | >99.50% |
| Selenium | 100 µg/L | <0.5 µg/L | >99.50% |
| Zinc | 150 µg/L | 26.1 µg/L | 82.60% |
| Chloramines | 3.02 mg/L | <0.1 mg/L | >96.69% |
| Free chlorine | 2.0 mg/L | <0.1 mg/L | >95.00% |
| Chloride | 236 mg/L | 10 mg/L | 95.76% |
| Nitrate | 42 mg/L | 0.3 mg/L | 99.29% |
| Nitrite | 3.8 mg/L | <0.1 mg/L | >97.37% |
| Fluoride | 8.0 mg/L | 1.96 mg/L | 75.50% |
For example, an effluent result reported below a detection or reporting limit means the actual concentration was lower than that stated threshold. The reduction therefore exceeds the percentage calculated at the threshold, but the exact percentage cannot be determined from the displayed data alone.
Lead clarification: The March 2025 CVR Labs report lists lead with a 0.2 mg/L spike level and an after-filtration result below the 0.001 mg/L detection limit. Expressed in the units used in the table above, that is 200 µg/L influent and less than 1 µg/L effluent, supporting a conservative reduction greater than 99.50% under the documented test conditions. This independent lead-reduction result is separate from NSF/ANSI/CAN 372, which addresses lead content in product materials rather than lead reduction from drinking water.
Fluoride clarification: The displayed values of 8.0 mg/L influent and 1.96 mg/L effluent calculate to a 75.50% reduction. This represents an initial laboratory result under the documented test conditions. The manufacturer states that fluoride reduction by carbon-based filter media may decline relatively quickly. For sustained fluoride reduction, Berkey PF-2® Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements are designed for use with Phoenix filter elements.
PFOA and PFOS Testing Through 1,500 Liters
A separate RAYNU Analytical and Research Lab report evaluated PFOA and PFOS at multiple service-volume checkpoints. The report lists measurements at 0, 250, 500, 1,000, and 1,500 liters.
| Service volume | PFOA influent | PFOA effluent | PFOS influent | PFOS effluent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 liters | 0.5 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L | 1.0 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L |
| 250 liters | 0.5 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L | 1.0 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L |
| 500 liters | 0.5 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L | 1.0 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L |
| 1,000 liters | 0.5 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L | 1.0 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L |
| 1,500 liters | 0.5 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L | 1.0 µg/L | <0.005 µg/L |
The combined PFOA-plus-PFOS challenge concentration was listed as 1.5 µg/L, with effluent reported below 0.005 µg/L at each checkpoint. The report marked the test entries as passed under its stated criteria. Refer to the complete PDF for the protocol, method sensitivity, allowable-effluent criteria, and laboratory notes.
How to Use These Results When Choosing a Filter
Start with the contaminant or water-quality issue that matters to your household, then review the corresponding laboratory report and test conditions. The strongest comparison is between your specific concern and the documented performance of the exact filter element you plan to use.
Complete Independent Laboratory Reports
Open the original PDFs below to review the complete analytical data. Reports are hosted on Berkey Phoenix, the official Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ product information website.
2. RAYNU Heavy Metals, VOC, PFAS and Radiological Report
Addresses heavy metals, volatile organic contaminants, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, PFAS, selected radiologicals and petroleum contaminants.
View the RAYNU heavy-metals and PFAS report3. RAYNU Organic Contaminants and Pharmaceuticals Report
Addresses pharmaceuticals, selected emerging compounds, disinfection byproducts, and a broad range of organic contaminants. See the original report for the complete list of analytes.
View the RAYNU organic contaminants report4. RAYNU PFOA and PFOS 1,500-Liter Report
Reports PFOA, PFOS and combined PFOA-plus-PFOS measurements at 0, 250, 500, 1,000 and 1,500 liters.
View the 1,500-liter PFOA and PFOS report5. Atom Heavy Metals and Inorganic Contaminants Report
Provides quantified findings for heavy metals, chloramines, free chlorine, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, and initial fluoride reduction.
View the April 2026 Atom reportContaminant Categories Addressed
Expand each section for representative contaminants identified in the published Phoenix testing documentation. This is a reference summary, not a substitute for the individual reports.
PFAS and “Forever Chemicals”
PFOA, PFOS, combined PFOA and PFOS, PFBS, PFDA, PFHpA, PFHxS and PFNA.
Heavy Metals
Aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, uranium, vanadium and zinc.
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts
Chlorine, free chlorine, chlorine residual, chloramines, bromochloroacetonitrile, chloropicrin, dibromoacetonitrile, dichloroacetonitrile, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, tribromoacetic acid, trichloroacetonitrile and trihalomethanes.
Inorganic Non-Metallic Contaminants
Chloride, nitrate, nitrite and fluoride.
Pharmaceuticals and Emerging Compounds
Acetaminophen, atenolol, BPA, caffeine, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, erythromycin, estrone, ibuprofen, meprobamate, phenytoin, progesterone, sulfamethoxazole, triclosan and trimethoprim.
Pesticides, Herbicides and Other Organic Compounds
The published laboratory documentation evaluates pesticides, herbicides, semi-volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and other selected organic compounds. Refer to the original reports for the complete analyte lists and test conditions.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Tested compounds include benzene, bromodichloromethane, bromoform, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, chloroform, dichloroethane, dichloroethene, dichloropropane, ethylbenzene, MTBE, styrene, tetrachloroethene, toluene, trichloroethane, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and xylene compounds.
Petroleum-Related Contaminants
Crude oil, diesel, gasoline, kerosene, mineral spirits, oil and grease.
Selected Radiological Elements
Cesium, iodine, strontium, thorium, and uranium.
Taste, Odor and Chlorine
NSF currently lists the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element PGF9-2 itself under NSF/ANSI 42 as a filter-cartridge component for chlorine reduction. NSF also lists chlorine reduction and taste and odor reduction for Travel Berkey®, Big Berkey®, and Royal Berkey® systems featuring Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements. Chloramine performance is addressed separately in the independent laboratory testing summarized on this page.
Part 2: Black Berkey® Elements Test Evidence
Black Berkey® Elements remain highly relevant to this evidence library because they are installed in many existing Berkey® systems. Customers using Black Berkey® Elements should be able to review the evidence for the filters already in their systems—not assume that Phoenix test results apply to Black elements.
New Millennium Concepts published a separate library of independent third-party test reports for Black Berkey® Elements covering PFAS/PFOA, lead, heavy metals, chlorine, VOCs, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, radiologicals, and other contaminants.
Black Berkey® PFAS evidence: In Envirotek Laboratories Report #16-296, a Gravity Black Berkey Filter was directly challenged with PFOA at 1.00 µg/L (1,000 ppt). Reported effluent was below 0.002 µg/L (2 ppt) at the start, 10 gallons, and 25 gallons, supporting >99.9% PFOA reduction under the documented test conditions. The same report lists PFOS, PFBS, PFDA, PFHxA, PFNA, and additional fluorinated compounds using PFOA as the surrogate compound.
| Accumulated volume | PFOA influent | Reported effluent | Reported reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 1.00 µg/L | <0.002 µg/L | >99.9% |
| 10 gallons | 1.00 µg/L | <0.002 µg/L | >99.9% |
| 25 gallons | 1.00 µg/L | <0.002 µg/L | >99.9% |
The Black Berkey® PFOA report states that its results relate only to the filter sample tested. Additional PFAS shown in the report are surrogate results based on the PFOA test and should not be described as separate direct challenge tests.
Black Berkey® Elements Complete Test-Result Library
The Black Berkey® evidence library links to reports for chemical reduction, radiologicals, VOCs, pesticides, THMs, HAA5, uranium, heavy metals, lead, chlorine, turbidity, Chromium VI, PFOA and other perfluorinated chemicals.
View Black Berkey® Elements Test ResultsAlready using Black Berkey® Elements? The availability of Phoenix does not erase the independent evidence for the Black elements currently installed in your system. Review the Black-specific reports above. When your Black Berkey® Elements eventually need replacement, Phoenix Gravity is the current compatible primary replacement option.
Phoenix Gravity vs. Black Berkey®: Evidence Comparison
Both filter-element families have independent laboratory evidence supporting contaminant reduction, but they were tested in different programs, at different times, and under different conditions. Use the evidence for the exact element installed in your Berkey® system.
| Evidence area | Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ | Black Berkey® Elements |
|---|---|---|
| PFAS reduction evidence | Yes. Independent testing covers PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFDA, PFHpA, PFHxS and PFNA. | Yes. Direct PFOA challenge testing plus additional PFAS/perfluorinated compounds reported using PFOA as a surrogate. |
| PFOA | 0.5 µg/L influent; <0.005 µg/L effluent at every listed checkpoint through 1,500 L. | 1.00 µg/L influent; <0.002 µg/L effluent at start, 10 gal and 25 gal; reported >99.9% reduction. |
| PFOS | Directly tested at 1.0 µg/L; <0.005 µg/L at every listed checkpoint through 1,500 L. | Included in the Envirotek report as a surrogate result based on PFOA; reported >99.9%. |
| Lead / heavy metals | Yes. Multiple current independent reports; selected quantified results are summarized above. | Yes. Separate independent reports include lead, heavy metals, and other chemical-reduction testing. |
| Chlorine/chloramine | Independent laboratory data for both. The Phoenix PGF9-2 element itself is NSF/ANSI 42 listed for chlorine reduction; Phoenix-equipped Travel, Big and Royal configurations are also listed under NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine reduction and taste-and-odor reduction. | Independent Black Berkey® chemical-reduction reports include testing for chlorine and chloramine. |
| VOCs / pesticides / other organics | Yes. Covered in the published Phoenix laboratory reports. | Yes. Covered in the Black Berkey® test-result library. |
| NSF PFAS certification | No. Phoenix PFAS claims on this page are based on independent laboratory testing. | No. Black Berkey® PFAS claims on this page are based on independent laboratory testing. |
| Current role | Current primary replacement option for compatible Berkey® gravity-fed systems. | Installed in many existing Berkey® systems; standalone replacements remain unavailable through normal authorized U.S. distribution. |
Do not use the percentages as a head-to-head winner. Phoenix and Black Berkey® were not tested side by side under a single, identical PFAS protocol. Differences in challenge concentration, reporting limit, service volume, laboratory, and test design mean the strongest conclusion is that both have evidence supporting PFAS reduction under their respective documented test conditions.
Laboratory Methods and Instrumentation
The reports identify different analytical techniques according to the contaminant being evaluated.
ICP-MS
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for metals and selected elemental analysis.
LC-MS/MS
Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used for PFAS and certain pharmaceutical and organic compounds.
GC-MS/MS
Gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze volatile organic compounds and other organic contaminants.
The documents also reference applicable procedures or guidance from sources such as APHA, AOAC, EPA, and selected NSF/ANSI testing protocols. Exact methods vary by report and analyte.
Current NSF Certification Listings
Current NSF listings cover both the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element PGF9-2 itself and specific Berkey® system configurations featuring Phoenix elements.
Phoenix Gravity PGF9-2 Filter Element
- NSF/ANSI Standard 42: NSF lists the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element PGF9-2 in the Filter Cartridges component category with a Chlorine Reduction claim.
The NSF component listing also notes testing to a capacity of 4,000 liters for chlorine and taste-and-odor reduction per NSF/ANSI 42. The displayed certified claim for the PGF9-2 cartridge itself is Chlorine Reduction.
Berkey® Systems Featuring Phoenix Elements
NSF separately lists Travel Berkey®, Big Berkey®, and Royal Berkey® systems featuring Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements:
- NSF/ANSI Standard 42: listed claims are Chlorine Reduction and Taste and Odor Reduction.
- NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 372: these configurations conform with applicable lead-content requirements for “lead-free” plumbing. Standard 372 addresses lead content in product materials; it does not certify lead reduction from drinking water.
What this means: It is accurate to state that the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filter Element PGF9-2 is NSF/ANSI 42 certified/listed for chlorine reduction. Travel, Big, and Royal Berkey® configurations featuring Phoenix elements are also NSF-listed under Standards 42 and 372 for the claims described above. These certifications should not be extended to PFAS, lead reduction, chloramine, or other independently tested contaminant claims unless NSF specifically lists those claims.
Compatibility and certification remain separate. Phoenix elements may be compatible with additional Berkey® housings, but the New Millennium Concepts NSF system listings specifically identify Travel Berkey®, Big Berkey®, and Royal Berkey® systems featuring Phoenix elements.
Test Result Questions
Can both Black Berkey® and Phoenix Gravity elements reduce PFAS?
Yes. Both have independent laboratory evidence supporting PFAS reduction. Black Berkey® was directly tested for PFOA, with additional PFAS reported using PFOA as a surrogate. Phoenix has newer independent testing that directly evaluates PFOA and PFOS through 1,500 liters and documents additional PFAS. Review the separate reports because the two filter elements were not tested under one identical protocol.
Are Phoenix filter elements certified to NSF/ANSI 53?
No NSF/ANSI 53 product certification is claimed on this page. Some laboratory reports reference NSF/ANSI 53 procedures, challenge conditions, or other testing criteria in their methods. Testing with a protocol is different from third-party product certification to that standard.
Why does this page not repeat every “99.9%+” value printed in the report?
Because several printed percentages do not match the concentrations displayed beside them. This page recalculates each result directly. For a “less than” effluent value, the page uses the stated reporting limit to show a conservative minimum. For example, reducing 3.02 mg/L to less than 0.1 mg/L supports a reduction greater than 96.69%, not a directly verifiable 99.9%+ from the displayed values alone.
Will every household receive the same result?
Not necessarily. Laboratory results apply to the test sample, challenge water, flow rate, preparation, service volume, and other conditions described in each report. Actual performance can be affected by influent water quality, contaminant concentration, filter condition, installation, and maintenance.
Do the filters reduce fluoride without PF-2 elements?
The April 2026 report recorded an initial 75.5% reduction in fluoride under its specified conditions. The manufacturer explains that fluoride-reduction performance in carbon-based media can decline relatively quickly. For customers seeking sustained fluoride reduction, Berkey PF-2® Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements are designed for use with compatible Phoenix configurations.
Do Phoenix elements change Total Dissolved Solids?
The elements are not designed to remove beneficial dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, and they ordinarily do not produce a meaningful change in a TDS-meter reading. A TDS meter is therefore not an appropriate tool for measuring the removal of many specific contaminants addressed by activated-carbon filtration.
Are microbiological reduction claims included?
No microbiological reduction claim is presented for Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements. The published product guidance is directed toward non-biological contaminants associated primarily with treated municipal water supplies.
Compare Phoenix elements with other options in our Berkey Replacement Filters Guide.
Review the Evidence, Then Choose the Right Filter
If your Berkey® currently uses Black Berkey® Elements, use the Black-specific reports above to evaluate those elements. When replacement is needed, Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements are the current primary replacement option for compatible Berkey® gravity-fed systems. Review the evidence for the exact element you use or plan to purchase.