Todays matchup is Berkey vs reverse osmosis!

I talk a lot about how Berkey water filters provide the cleanest, healthiest H2O in the world.

They successfully remove harmful contaminants like pathogenic bacteria, parasites, VOCs, lead, mercury and much more.

But doesn't reverse osmosis do the same? So which one is better?

Like Berkey filters, reverse osmosis claims to create equally clean, pure water.

That is mostly true. Without a UV light added to the system, it cannot remove pathogenic bacteria.

But the UV light has been known to fail at times. For the most part, reverse osmosis systems do provide clean liquid, free of harmful substances found in the stuff that comes out of your tap.

Reverse osmosis uses osmotic pressure to push water through a semipermeable membrane, removing salt and anything that is harmful.

Berkeys use micro-porous filtration to do the same through their gravity filters.

While there are similarities between the two, there are also differences that should help you decide which water filter system is best for you.

The Major Differences Between a Berkey and Reverse Osmosis System

While a lot of harmful substances are removed, Berkey filters promise that in the filtration process all the healthy minerals remain.

Reverse osmosis doesn't make the same promise. It takes out both the bad contaminants and good minerals the body needs.

My brother has used a system like this before and he says it makes the H2O soft and that it feels slimy.

I don't know if that has anything to do with the minerals or not though.

Some health experts in fact recommend that reverse osmosis H2O not be consumed for long periods of time because during the filtration process it is turned into a hypotonic solution.

The minerals already in the blood and lymphatic system then transfer into hypotonic water, to be flushed out of the body later.

Continuous loss of these minerals can cause degenerative diseases like osteoporosis.

Berkey filters leave in these beneficial minerals so the body gets exactly what it needs.

It will only help the body instead of harm it. Another difference between the two is convenience.

Reverse osmosis systems are not as easy to disassemble and clean. They are also not portable.

Berkeys, on the other hand, can be taken anywhere and they are easy to clean and assemble.

Seeing the differences should help you decide which option is best for your family.

Overall, it's most important that your family drink clean, healthy water as soon and as often as possible.

I Could Live With Both Systems Though

There's no question for my family it's going to be one of the Berkey water filters.

However, for washing dishes and brushing my teeth I could live with a reverse osmosis system because then I'd be free from chlorine and fluoride.

I've also tasted both Berkey and RO water and I'm not a fan of RO water in the home.

I definitely prefer the water from our Berkey.

The highly anticipated match featuring Berkey vs reverse osmosis is over. Berkey wins!