Question from Chris
We would like a to find a way to provide safe drinking water for our child who is moving into a college dorm. Any recommendations? Unfortunately, she won’t have a sink in her room. There’s a big bathroom down the hall. The Brita pitcher would be convenient, but I’ve heard they aren’t terribly effective.
Debra’s Answer
I agree Brita filters are not very effective.
If you need a pour-through filter, your best bet is a Berkey. Their Travel Berkey filter makes 1.5 gallons of water and is sized for apartments and hotel rooms.
I am doing same thing…trying to get good filter for college dorm….can’t connect to kitchen sink….must be stand-alone…bought a Big Berkey….they claim to remove chloramines and fluoride….set it up w/2 black filters and 2 fluoride filters….but there is still the activated alumina issue…..someone on a forum suggested buying a second Big Berkey…pouring the water filtered thru the 1st system (w/ fluoride cartridges) thru a 2nd system w/just the black filters….do you know if this would remove any alumina residue from the fluoride filters? Do you know if any other companies have developed good gravity system filters since the posts on this subject a while back now?
The Berkey website says their black filters remove <75% aluminum. That means "less than 75%" or "75% is the most it will remove."
I haven't research gravity-feed filters lately. Readers, have you come across any we should be considering?
wondering what you decided to go with? flouride is a big concern but so is the alumina filter. wonder which is the lesser of two evils?
Just chiming in here to mention you might want to look into the Pure Effect countertop filter. It’s not permanent, doesn’t cause any harm to the faucet or plumbing, etc. Unscrew it and take it with you when you move.
We did get a Berkey, their sport bottle with a cartridge. She can fill it up anywhere. Thanks for your help, Debra!