The filter’s service life varies depending on the source water and the level of contamination. The recommendation for when the filter should be replaced depends on various factors. For filtering chlorine, for example, the filters last for more than 45,000 litres per pair. However, there are several contaminants in the water and the amount present can vary.
The Black Berkey filters have therefore been designed to last for many years. However, we are now living in a different era to that of a few years ago. The number of contaminants has only increased, and they have become increasingly severe (think, for example, of PFAS or the significant rise in pharmaceutical residues, pesticides, etc.). This has a huge impact on the filters, meaning they need to be replaced a little sooner. It is, of course, difficult to keep track of exactly what is in the water and in what quantities, which is why we recommend replacing Black Berkey filters every three years at most when using tap water. If you use water from another source, we advise replacing them sooner.