A Dependable Water Filtration System for Home and Off-Grid Living
Having dependable drinking water is important whether you live in a conventional home, own a remote cabin, travel in an RV, or prepare for emergencies. Gravity fed water filtration systems offer an attractive solution because they require no electricity, plumbing, or pressurized water.
The Berkey water filtration system has earned a strong following among homeowners and off grid enthusiasts because of its stainless steel construction, generous storage capacity, and simple operation.
I have personally used a Berkey Crown system at my remote cabin in British Columbia since 2012. It has been a fantastic fresh-water system for our family, providing convenient drinking water without requiring electricity or complicated plumbing.
Over the years, we have used the system with rainwater collected from a metal roof and stored in a 300-gallon tank. More recently, we updated our original filtration elements to British Berkefeld 7-inch Ceramic Ultra Sterasyl filters.
The good news is that you do not have to replace your existing stainless steel Berkey system to take advantage of British Berkefeld ceramic filtration. These elements fit compatible Berkey gravity-fed systems, allowing owners to continue using equipment they have enjoyed for years.
This guide examines the Berkey system, British Berkefeld filters, newer Phoenix Gravity replacement elements, household applications, filtration performance, and maintenance.
1. Understanding the Berkey Gravity Water Filtration System
Berkey systems are stainless steel, gravity fed water filtration units. Their design is straightforward: water is poured into an upper chamber, passes through installed filtration elements, and collects in a lower storage chamber.
No electricity, pumps, plumbing connections, or water pressure are necessary.
Several sizes are available:
| Model | Storage capacity | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Berkey | 1.5 gallons | RVs and small households |
| Big Berkey | 2.25 gallons | Everyday household use |
| Royal Berkey | 3.25 gallons | Small to medium households |
| Imperial Berkey | 4.5 gallons | Larger households |
| Crown Berkey | 6 gallons | Cabins and larger households |
The Royal and Crown are particularly useful for people who want a larger supply of filtered water readily available.
The polished stainless-steel construction looks attractive on a kitchen countertop, while the compact design makes the system practical for cabins, vacation homes, and emergency water supplies.
2. What Is Included With a Berkey System?
A standard Royal Berkey package generally includes:
- Upper stainless-steel chamber.
- Lower stainless-steel chamber.
- Stainless-steel lid and handle.
- Dispensing spigot. Recommend upgrading this product to the stainless
- Two primary filter elements in the applicable package.
- Filter mounting washers and wing nuts.
- Blocking plugs for unused openings.
- Rubber base gasket.
- Priming accessories and instructions, depending on the filter package.
The Royal holds approximately 3.25 gallons of filtered water and can accommodate up to four compatible primary elements.
The Crown Berkey holds approximately six gallons, making it particularly useful for families, larger households, and remote properties.
Additional filter elements can be purchased to increase filtration capacity, subject to the system’s mounting configuration.
3. Understanding the Different Berkey Filter Options
The filter elements are the heart of any gravity-fed system. The stainless-steel chambers store the water, but the installed elements determine what contaminants can be reduced.
There are two current filter options worth understanding.
Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition Filters
Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements are the replacement filters officially endorsed by New Millennium Concepts for use in Berkey systems in place of the original Black Berkey elements.
They use a gravity-fed filtration design with specialized carbon-based filtration media.
Published specifications include:
- Approximately 5,500 gallons of rated capacity per pair.
- Approximately 2,750 gallons per element.
- Maximum flow rate of approximately 4.2 gallons per hour per pair under specified conditions.
- Compatibility with Royal, Crown, and other compatible Berkey systems.
- No electricity or plumbing required.
The Phoenix elements have NSF/ANSI 42 certification for specified aesthetic reductions, including chlorine taste and odor, and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 certification for lead-free material requirements.
The latter is a materials safety certification, not a claim that the filters remove lead from water.
Independent laboratory reports also describe testing involving selected PFAS compounds, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and other contaminants. Those additional results should be evaluated individually rather than assumed to be covered by the NSF certifications.
For households using municipal water, Phoenix Gravity elements offer a current replacement option for people who want to continue using their existing Berkey system.
British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl Ceramic Filters
British Berkefeld is part of the Doulton water filtration family, a British manufacturer with a history dating back to 1826.
The seven-inch Ultra Sterasyl element combines three filtration components:
- A microporous ceramic outer shell.
- Granular activated carbon.
- Additional contaminant-reduction media.
The ceramic exterior provides a physical filtration barrier, while the internal media help reduce selected chemical contaminants and improve taste and odor.
The Ultra Sterasyl is compatible with Berkey gravity-fed systems, including the Royal and Crown.
Its published contaminant-reduction information includes testing involving bacteria, cysts, selected pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and microplastics.
Its NSF certification should be described precisely: the listed SS2 Ultra Sterasyl configuration is certified for specified particulate, turbidity, and cyst reductions under NSF/ANSI 42 and 53. NSF/ANSI 372 addresses lead-free materials. Other manufacturer-reported reductions are not automatically covered by those certifications.
Doulton recommends replacing Ultra Sterasyl elements every six months for best results.
One important distinction is that Ultra Sterasyl should not be treated as a standalone virus-removal system or used with microbiologically unsafe water without adequate disinfection before or after filtration.
4. Why British Berkefeld Is an Interesting Alternative
For owners who have invested in a Berkey stainless-steel system, changing filter elements can be a practical way to continue using the equipment.
The British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl is especially interesting because it combines ceramic filtration with activated carbon.
Unlike simply replacing one carbon based element with another, the Ultra Sterasyl provides a ceramic filtration surface that captures particulate material and certain microorganisms.
For households using municipal water, this combination offers an additional filtration step for drinking and cooking water.
For off grid properties, it provides a gravity fed filtration option that does not require electrical power.
The two systems have different strengths:
| Feature | Phoenix Gravity | British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl |
|---|---|---|
| Filtration technology | Specialized carbon-based media | Ceramic and activated carbon |
| Gravity operation | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible with Berkey | Yes | Yes |
| NSF certification | Standards 42 and 372 | Standards 42, 53 and 372 |
| Manufacturer replacement guidance | 2,750 gallons per element | Six months |
| Electricity required | No | No |
| Primary attraction | Higher flow and long rated capacity | Ceramic filtration and multiple filtration stages |
The best choice depends on the incoming water, desired filtration characteristics, and maintenance preferences.
5. Using a Berkey System Indoors With Municipal Tap Water
Berkey systems are not just for cabins and emergency preparedness. They can also be convenient countertop water filters for everyday household use.
Municipal water is already treated and regulated before reaching your home. However, some homeowners prefer additional filtration to improve taste, reduce chlorine odors, and address selected contaminants.
A gravity fed Berkey can provide this additional filtration without installing an under-sink system or modifying existing plumbing.
Simply fill the upper chamber with cold municipal tap water and allow gravity to move it through the installed filter elements.
Potential household benefits include:
- Better tasting drinking water.
- Reduced chlorine taste and odor with appropriately tested filter elements.
- Convenient water for coffee and tea.
- Filtered water for cooking.
- Easy filling of drinking bottles and pitchers.
- No electricity consumption.
- No permanent plumbing installation.
For everyday municipal water, the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition is a particularly relevant current Berkey replacement option because its intended applications include typical municipal drinking water supplies.
British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl is another option for homeowners interested in ceramic and activated carbon filtration.
The important thing is to match the filter’s documented performance to the contaminants actually present in your municipal supply. A local water-quality report is a useful starting point.
Neither system should be assumed to remove every possible contaminant.
6. Using a Berkey System at an Off Grid Cabin
The greatest attraction of a gravity fed filtration system is its ability to operate without electricity.
At my remote British Columbia cabin, we collect rainwater from an open air metal roof. The water travels through the collection system into a 300-gallon storage tank. We love our filter water, but you have to be safe but I don’t follow all these requirements.
Because the roof is exposed to birds and the outdoor environment, the water can collect bird droppings, dust, and other organic material.
We periodically disinfect the storage tank using an appropriate bleach treatment.
For this type of application, I recommend several additional precautions:
- Install a first flush diverter to discard the initial roof runoff.
- Keep the storage tank covered and protected from animals.
- Inspect and remove accumulated sediment.
- Establish a measured tank disinfection procedure.
- Test stored water for E. coli and total coliform.
- Consider validated UV disinfection or boiling as an additional treatment barrier when needed.
British Berkefeld and Phoenix Gravity filters should not be considered a complete substitute for disinfection when water is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality.
For rainwater systems, the best approach is to combine proper collection, clean storage, filtration, testing, and disinfection.
7. How Long Does It Take to Filter Water?
Filtration speed is an important consideration when selecting a gravity-fed system.
The actual time depends on the filter type, number of elements, water level, sediment, and filter condition.
The Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements have a published maximum flow rate of approximately 4.2 gallons per hour per pair under specified conditions. The rate decreases as the upper chamber empties and can increase in larger systems such as the Crown.
British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl ceramic elements are generally slower. A hell of a lot slower but it filters more per advertisment.
As a result, a Crown Berkey fitted with Ultra Sterasyl elements may take considerably longer to fill than the same system fitted with Phoenix elements.
For either system, filling the upper chamber before going to bed is a convenient way to have filtered water ready the following morning.
Do not assume maximum advertised flow rates will be achieved continuously. Measure the actual output of your system under normal operating conditions.
8. Properly Priming New Filters
New filter elements need to be properly prepared before use.
For British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl elements:
- Remove the filter from its packaging.
- Rinse the filter for 10 seconds.
- Check that the mounting washer is properly positioned.
- Install the element in the upper chamber.
- Close the dispensing tap.
- Fill the upper chamber with cold water.
- Allow the water to pass through.
- Discard the first filtered water.
- Rinse and wipe the lower chamber with a clean cloth.
- Repeat the process, allowing at least one litre per installed element to run to waste.
- Continue until the water is clear.
Some black or white particles may appear during initial conditioning. These can be released from the ceramic and carbon media and should clear during flushing.
If an Ultra Sterasyl element has been left unused for more than three days, Doulton’s instructions recommend allowing one litre of water per element to run to waste before using it.
For Phoenix Gravity elements, use the supplied PrimeEasy Universal Primer and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The process forces air out of the filter pores and flushes away manufacturing residue. Using a Crown system with eight filters, is a pain to prime, but it has to be done. Always look for the water to bleed after 15 seconds. Becareful how much water pressue you use or you will be sprayed with water. Haha.
If a Phoenix element has dried out, re-prime it before returning it to service.
9. Cleaning and Maintaining Ceramic Filters
Ceramic filters can accumulate sediment and particles on their exterior surfaces, causing filtration speed to decrease.
To restore flow:
- Remove the element from the upper chamber.
- Wash and dry your hands.
- Hold the ceramic surface under running water.
- Gently scrub the exterior evenly with a clean abrasive kitchen pad or appropriate stiff brush.
- Avoid contaminating the threaded mounting stem.
- Reinstall the element using its original sealing hardware.
Doulton recommends replacing Ultra Sterasyl elements every six months for best results.
Phoenix Gravity elements have a different replacement schedule, with a recommended capacity of 2,750 gallons per element under stated conditions.
Always follow the specific instructions for the element you own.
10. Where to Buy Berkey
Berkey Royal and Crown systems
Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition replacement elements
https://www.berkeywater.com/phoenix-gravity-new-millennium-edition-filter-elements
When purchasing replacement elements, verify the exact model, compatibility, included mounting hardware, and applicable certification. WATCH OUT FOR COUNTERFIT FILTERS.
Conclusion: A Practical Water Filtration Solution for Home and Off-Grid Living
The Berkey Crown has served as a dependable gravity-fed water system at my remote cabin since 2012. Its stainless-steel construction, generous capacity, and electricity-free operation have made it an important part of our off-grid lifestyle.
The availability of compatible British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl ceramic filters means existing off grid Berkey owners can continue using their systems while exploring a different filtration technology.
For everyday household use, Phoenix provides a higher-flow carbon-based option with a long stated service capacity,.
For off-grid properties, the ability to operate without electricity or plumbing remains one of the greatest advantages of these systems.
Whether you are filtering municipal tap water at home or rainwater at a remote cabin, the most important consideration is choosing a filter appropriate for your source water and combining filtration with proper water testing and disinfection when necessary.
A well-maintained gravity-fed system can provide years of convenient access to better-tasting drinking water without complicated equipment or expensive plumbing modifications.
