Is the Big Berkey Gravity System NSF certified, and does it remove lead or PFAS?

We found no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification for it in the public databases - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications, so we award no certification credit. It is marketed for lead but we found no accredited lead certification. It is marketed for PFAS but we found no accredited PFAS certification.

Is the Big Berkey NSF certified?

No. Berkey is not NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certified; its contaminant claims come from manufacturer-commissioned lab testing rather than an independent certification body.

Why has Berkey availability been disrupted?

The EPA classified the silver-containing Black Berkey elements as pesticide devices under FIFRA in 2022, triggering a stop-sale order and litigation that has affected stock of replacement elements.

Water filter · countertop

Big Berkey Gravity System

Name: Big Berkey Gravity System
Brand: Berkey

Genuinely cheap per gallon, but 'tested to' lab claims with no NSF/ANSI certification to verify them. In our view, the widest claim-vs-proof gap in the set.

3.2/ 10

Limited

Composite (0-10), water-v1.0

Confidence: Verified

Bottom line

In our scoring the Big Berkey Gravity System earns 3.2/10, a weak result, and it scores best on practical fit (7.0/10). On the data, we found no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification, so its contaminant claims are unverified. It works out to about $0.028 per gallon, very cheap per gallon. Our main catch: marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.

Flags

· Marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.
· Marketed for PFAS removal but not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
· No third-party certification on the NSF/WQA/IAPMO database. 'Tested to' is not 'certified to'.

Flags indicate missing certifications or data gaps under our rubric, not a confirmed finding that a product fails to perform.

Recalls and advisories

[EPA] Black Berkey elements have faced an EPA/FIFRA regulatory matter affecting availability; verify current status before purchase. source

Where to buy

No buy link on this one: it scored Limited under our rubric, and we only link products we would shortlist ourselves.

Total cost of ownership

Checked 45 days ago

Cost / gallon: $0.028
~Annual filters: $31/yr

Which cartridge fits, and where to reorder it

Certifications

No third-party certification on an official database. Any performance claims are unverified.

Filters only protect you on their swap schedule. Get an email reminder when this one is due - one note around swap time, nothing else.

Overview

The Big Berkey Gravity System is a countertop water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for lead, PFOA, PFOS, chlorine taste and odor, fluoride, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.028 per gallon.

By the numbers

Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
Marketed, no certification found: lead, PFOA, PFOS, chlorine taste and odor, fluoride
Format: countertop
Cartridge life: 6,000 gallons
Cost per gallon: $0.028
Annual filter cost (~1,100 gal): $31/yr
Install: gravity countertop, no plumbing

Strengths

No standout strengths in our scoring.

Watch-outs

- Verified Contaminant Reduction: 0.0/10
- Certification Independence: 3.0/10
- Marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.
- Marketed for PFAS removal but not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
- No third-party certification on the NSF/WQA/IAPMO database. 'Tested to' is not 'certified to'.

Who it is for

· Cost-conscious buyers - very low cost per gallon

Who should skip it

· Anyone who needs verified contaminant removal - this product is not certified
· Anyone buying specifically for lead - it is marketed for it but not certified

What to know before buying

· Black Berkey elements are not NSF/WQA certified; the brand relies on its own commissioned third-party 'tested to' lab data rather than independent certification.
· In late 2022 the EPA classified Black Berkey elements as pesticide devices under FIFRA due to their silver content, leading to a stop-sale dispute that has affected availability.
· Replacement Black Berkey elements (BB9-2) are sold in pairs and rated by the manufacturer for about 6,000 gallons each; fluoride reduction requires separate add-on PF-2 filters.

How it scored

Verified Contaminant Reduction

0.0/10 · 35%

Held NSF/WQA/IAPMO certifications for the contaminants that matter. A claim is not a certification.

·No third-party contaminant certification Aclaims only, uncertified - No NSF/WQA/IAPMO certification. Performance claims are unverified.

Total Cost of Ownership

5.0/10 · 25%

Computed cost per gallon vs the format-class median. The number nobody surfaces.

+5Cost per gallon vs class median A$0.028/gal (below class median) - Computed cost per gallon scored against the format-class median.

Certification Independence

3.0/10 · 15%

Certified on the official database vs self-claimed 'tested to' marketing.

·Not verifiable on a certification database Ano database listing - No third-party certification listing. 'Tested to NSF standards' earns no certification credit.
+3Per-contaminant reduction disclosed Bperformance data sheet - Publishes percent reduction per contaminant at rated capacity.
·Marketing exceeds certified scope Aclaims beyond certified scope - Marketing emphasizes contaminants the certifications do not cover.

Capacity & Flow Fit

5.0/10 · 15%

Cartridge life and flow appropriate to the format.

+3Cartridge life fits the format B6000 gal (norm 450) - Rated cartridge life is appropriate for this filter format.
+2Honestly rated filter life Bgallon rating matches typical use - Months claim matches the gallon rating at typical use.

Practical Fit

7.0/10 · 10%

Install, footprint, and source-water readiness.

+5Install type disclosed Cgravity countertop, no plumbing - Install method and difficulty are disclosed up front.
+2Predictable replacement schedule Chonest life rating - Replacement schedule is predictable from the honest gallon rating.

FAQ

Is the Big Berkey Gravity System NSF certified, and does it remove lead or PFAS?: We found no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification for it in the public databases - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications, so we award no certification credit. It is marketed for lead but we found no accredited lead certification. It is marketed for PFAS but we found no accredited PFAS certification.
Is the Big Berkey NSF certified?: No. Berkey is not NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certified; its contaminant claims come from manufacturer-commissioned lab testing rather than an independent certification body.
Why has Berkey availability been disrupted?: The EPA classified the silver-containing Black Berkey elements as pesticide devices under FIFRA in 2022, triggering a stop-sale order and litigation that has affected stock of replacement elements.

Compared head-to-head

Related guides

This score is our opinion under our published rubric, not a statement of objective fact or a lab test of this product. We score what third-party certifications prove; absence of a certification means we found no verification, not that a product fails to perform. Last reviewed 2026-06-05. Scored under water-v1.0. Prices were last checked 45 days ago; the freshness chip above the cost panel shows the current state. See the methodology for how each rule fires.