Berkey Water Filters – Effective Against Cholera and More

With the recent out break of Cholera in Haiti, I began to wonder if a Berkey Purification System were available to them, how effective would it be. The effectiveness of any Purification System is absolutely determined by the filter elements. The Berkey offers two types of elements, the White Berkey and the Black Berkey elements. The White Berkey elements have been tested to remove 99.99% of the bacteria that causes Cholera. However I found that the Black Berkey elements, although superior in every way, have not been tested.

The Berkey is a versatile water purification system that is ideal for use at home by small to medium sized families while traveling, during outdoor activities or in an unexpected emergency. The powerful Berkey will filter treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. Portability and the ability to filter water in an emergency or remote areas without the need of electricity or water pressure are the Berkey’s trade mark qualities.

It does not matter which type of filter system is chosen, it is strongly suggest that the water be pre-treated in an outbreak of any kind. This can be done easily by following the basic instructions below:

You can use granular calcium hypochlorite to disinfect water. To do this you add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (about one quarter ounce) for each two gallons of water, or 5 milliliters (about 7 grams) for 71/2 liters of water. This mixture produces a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 ounces) of stock chlorine to each 12 1/2 gallons of water or (about one half a liter to 50 liters of water) to be disinfected. You may remove any objectionable chlorine odor by, aerating the disinfected water. This can be done by pouring the water back and forth from one clean container to another.

A surprising fact that I found is that Cholera is a world wide problem that touches every continent and that a Berkey could benefit many people in fighting an out break of Cholera.

Learn more about Berkey and purchase: CLICK HERE!