The Berkey manufacturer has filed a lawsuit against the EPA seeking to stop it's unjustified persecution of Berkey Water Filters based on the EPA’s decision this year to treat Berkey Water Filters as though they are pesticides, rather than water filters. The EPA has already ordered the closure of Berkey's largest warehouse. Please see our blog post for the details.
The PF-2 fluoride filters are water filters that remove fluoride, they are attached to the Black Berkey filters . The only countries in Europe that continue to fluoridate their water are Ireland and parts of England and Spain. The water in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is not artificially fluoridated. However artificial fluoridation is being administered in some parts of England by local water authorities. The two following links show where artificial fluoridation / high natural fluoride levels are present. The first pdf map shows fluoride levels in England and Wales. The second pdf map gives a county by county breakdown of where fluoridation/high fluoride is to be found in England. Ireland is the only country in Europe that mandates the addition of fluoride to drinking water. In all other European countries, fluoridation has been banned or was never implemented. See the following links for more information about the hazards of water fluoridation:
Berkey PF-2 reduction elements are specially designed for use in conjunction with the Black Berkey Water Filters to adsorb the following unwanted elements found in drinking water.
It is a filter that removes Fluoride
Arsenic V and pre-oxidized Arsenic III
Other residual heavy metal ions
The number of PF-2's must always correspond with the number of Black Berkey filters installed in the upper chamber. For example, 4 Black Berkeys (2 sets of 2) would require 4 PF-2s (2 sets of 2), and so on.
The PF-2 shell is made from safe, non-leaching Polypropylene #5, this is a BPA-Free plastic and is used for food containers such as ketchup bottles and yoghurt containers.
PF-2 filters reduce the filtration flow rate by 15-20%.
Do not boil the PF-2 filters.
Replacement
Under normal conditions, we recommend that each set of two PF-2 filters be replaced after approx. 3,785 litres. For instance, the Royal Berkey system is about 12.3 litres, therefore the PF-2 filters should be replaced after (3,785/12.3) or 307 refills. If the system is refilled about one time per day, the PF-2s should be replaced after 10 months, if the system is refilled about twice per day, the PF-2s should be replaced about every five months. Actual capacity is dependent on the presence of other competing contaminants in the source water. High levels of fluoride, arsenic and heavy metals may reduce the capacity and efficiency of the elements.
Priming the PF-2 Water Filter
(Attention: PF-2 filters must be primed before use.)
With blue caps in place, wash the exterior of each PF-2 water filter with a mild dish soap.
With clean hands, remove both blue caps from each end of the PF-2 water filter.
Place the rubber-priming button (tan coloured) onto one end of the PF-2 water filter and align the hole in the button with the hole in the PF-2 water filter.
Press the priming button up against a sink faucet so that the priming button creates a seal between the faucet and the PF-2 filter.
While holding the priming button against the faucet, turn on the cold water gently and allow the water to fill the cavity of the PF-2 water filter and discharge from the opposite end. Allow the water to discharge for at least 20 seconds or until the water runs clear, whichever is longer. Hint: Place your thumb on top of the faucet to apply pressure creating a tighter seal.
Now repeat the process by turning the PF-2 water filter over and priming the filter from the opposite end in the same manner.
Prime each additional PF-2 filter repeating steps 3-6.
How to Prime and Install the PF-2 Fluoride Filters
Remove the upper chamber from the filtration system and place it upside down on a counter so that the stems of the Black Berkey elements are facing upward.
With the water flow arrow pointing away from the upper chamber (the PF-2 water filters have threads on one end only) screw the PF-2 water filters onto the stems of each Black Berkey filter 8 revolutions. Attention: a) Do not screw the PF-2 filter on more than 8 revolutions as this may damage the internal media screen b) The flow arrow should point away from the upper chamber.
Replace the upper chamber on to the lower chamber (the PF-2 water filters should now be hanging in the lower chamber). Fill the upper reservoir with water and let it drain into the lower chamber. When the lower chamber is full, discard this 1st batch of water, which may contain some residual process dust. Your purification system is ready for use. Attention: On a rare occasion it can take up to 5 full chamber flushes/batches before the dust subsides. If the dust does not subside after the 5th full batch of water, please contact us for a potential replacement.
Technical Information and Testing
Testing for fluoride was based on 20-30ppm of the ion in the influent aqueous solution at a flow rate of no more than 3 gpm (11 lpm) per cubic foot of media. Results of < 1ppm of the fluoride ion in the effluent were typical for the media (>95% reduction). Under optimum conditions, effluent concentrations of less than 50 ppb were readily achieved (>99.75% reduction). This product uniquely targets the entire family of arsenic oxide anions as well as arsenic cations.
Our original tests were done using gravity alone to purge the PF-2 filters. Since then, we have added a step by using purging buttons which are much more efficient at removing any residual process dust from the PF-2 media. The test does not distinguish between activated alumina (Al2O3) and Aluminum (Al). So we had to use the total count of aluminium and activated alumina in our tests.
PF-2 filters contain high-grade activated alumina (Al2O3), which currently is the most efficient media available for extracting fluoride from water. The activated alumina is inert. Below are the results we obtained when testing the PF-2 filters (the water was not pre-filtered through the Black Berkey Filter Elements). The reduction over time is due to additional residual process dust being washed free from the PF-2 filter as the system is used. To give a scale for comparison purposes we include test results from a national brand of toothpaste and water boiled in an aluminium pan.
National brand toothpaste 52.878 ppm aluminium oxide
Water boiled in an aluminium pan for five minutes: 2.791 ppm aluminium
PF2 after conditioning (5 cycles): .178 ppm aluminium oxide
PF2 after 10 Cycles: .037 ppm aluminium oxide
PF2 after 20 Cycles: .029 ppm aluminium oxide
While the above results indicate that the residual process dust adds a minute amount of activated alumina to the water, the Black Berkey Water Filters reduce aluminium from the water. We tested water that naturally contained .320ppm aluminium and filtered it through the combination of the Black Berkey and the post conditioned PF-2 filtration elements (5 cycles). The results showed a net reduction in aluminium contamination (Raw influent: .320ppm - Effluent after passing through the Black Berkey and PF-2 elements: .232ppm). Again, the standard tests cannot distinguish between aluminium (Al) and activated alumina (Al2O3), which is inert. Nevertheless, the tests showed a net reduction by the Black Berkey filter element in the combination of naturally occurring aluminium plus any residual activated alumina (Al2O3) process dust from the PF-2 elements.
Do the PF-2 filters used in Berkey Water Filter Systems leach aluminum into your drinking water?
The answer is NO. The PF-2 filters used in Berkey water filter systems do NOT leach aluminum into your drinking water.
Click the link below to read and download our extensive article (.pdf) that explains more about Berkey water filter systems, and the differences between aluminum, alumina and activated alumina—three terms that people often incorrectly (and sometimes irresponsibly) use interchangeably when writing articles and reviews about water filter systems. Plus, learn about the limitations of standard aluminum testing protocols and why TDS meters are not a reliable way to measure aluminum in your drinking water.
What is the best way to keep the PF-2 Filters when away for more than a long weekend? There is some conflicting info on the internet. Do I have to put them in the fridge?
The Berkey PF-2 Filters can be stored in a refrigerator, short term; but definitely don't store them in a freezer. To do this, unscrew the PF-2 Filters from the Black Berkey Filter, put them into a sealable sandwich bag or container and place the filters in the refrigerator towards the front to ensure that they do not freeze.
If you do store them in a refrigerator, we recommend re-priming the PF-2 Filters for up to 1-minute each in both directions, before using them again.
The Berkey PF-2 Filters should not be allowed to air dry as this could allow some bacteria growth in the filter to occur.
Emily, 2018-12-07
The active ingredient in the PF-2 Filters is activated alumina. Isn’t that the same as aluminum and aren’t there then health concerns with exposure to aluminum?
The material in the PF-2 Filters used to extract fluoride and arsenic is indeed activated alumina. Since fluoride is a by-product of aluminum production, fluoride has a natural affinity to recombine with activated alumina making it an ideal extraction substance. Both nutritionist and lab technicians have informed us that aluminum and alumina are two different things. Aluminum can cross the blood brain barrier and cause problems with the brain whereas alumina is inert, it is oxidized aluminum. Aluminum is regulated whereas alumina is not, for example alumina is the material used for making the paste in toothpaste. At any rate, when testing for aluminum in water, most tests cannot distinguish between aluminum ions and oxidized alumina. Since we are not chemists, we tested the effluent from the filters and included that information in our testing results. While we were not required to do so, we felt that it was important to disclose to our customers what our results were so that they would have the necessary information to do further research on the issue should they desire to do so. We think it was significant in the test we conducted using the combination of Black Berkey Filters and PF-2 Filters there was a net reduction in the tested aluminum content of the source water vs. the purified water. Again that test did not distinguish between aluminum and alumina. The bottom line is that the media utilized is oxidized alumina and not aluminum
Ian, 2014-12-14
Could you tell me exactly which types of fluoride the PF-2 Fluoride Filters are able to filter?
The PF-2 Filters will remove all fluorides which are added to drinking water whether it be H2SiF6, Na2SiF6 or sodium fluoride.
Julia, 2014-03-28
I am interested in buying one of your water filters. I really need a filter that removes fluoride and notice that the systems come with 2 Black Berkey Filters. Is there any way that you can order it with 2 PF-2 Fluoride Filters instead as I would not use the Black Berkey Filters if they do not remove fluoride?
Every Berkey System does indeed come standard with 2 Black Berkey Filters, the PF-2 Fluoride Filters are not stand alone filters and are supplementary to the Black Berkey Filters. They can be attached to the Black Berkey Filters if you live in a fluoridated area. The Black Berkey Filters are placed in the upper container and the PF-2 Fluoride Filters are attached to the stems of the Black Berkey Filters and hang in the lower container, the water passes first through the Black Berkey Filters and then through the PF-2 Fluoride Filters.
Marie, 2014-04-25
I have installed the PF-2 Filters into the Travel Berkey Water Filter and accidentally screwed it all the way in instead of just 8 full revolutions. The manual states this could damage the internal media screen. Is there any way how to test whether the filter is damaged or not?
Yes, you would be continually getting alumina particulate in your water, which gives a bitter taste and shows up as white particulate in the lower chamber. You may have bit of this in the beginning, it can sometimes take up to 5 full containers to dissipate, but after that it should be clear and tasteless. I would suggest unscrewing a bit and it should be fine. By the way alumina is an inert compound and has no effects upon living tissue.
