Contaminant Reduction Chart
What Do Berkefeld Water Filters Remove?
Many customers researching water filtration want to know exactly what contaminants a Berkefeld water filter removes.
British Berkefeld ceramic filters are designed to reduce a wide range of contaminants commonly found in municipal and well water. These filters combine ceramic microfiltration, activated carbon, and specialized filtration media to address bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, microplastics, and other impurities.
Unlike many gravity water filters that rely only on carbon filtration, Berkefeld filters use a precision ceramic outer shell that physically blocks contaminants while the internal carbon media reduces chemicals and improves taste.
The chart below provides a reference guide to contaminants Berkefeld filters are designed to reduce.
Contaminants Berkefeld Helps Reduce
Bacteria
Cysts
Lead
Mercury
Chlorine
Chloramines
Microplastics
PFAS (PFOA / PFOS)
Pesticides
Herbicides
Pharmaceutical residues
Trihalomethanes (THMs)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Sediment
Rust
Turbidity
Organic chemicals
Taste and odor compounds
Berkefeld Contaminant Reduction Chart
| Contaminant Category | Contaminant | Performance | Filtration Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacteria | E. coli | Up to 99.99% reduction | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Bacteria | Klebsiella | Up to 99.99% reduction | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Bacteria | Salmonella | Up to 99.99% reduction | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Parasites | Giardia | Certified cyst reduction | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Parasites | Cryptosporidium | Certified cyst reduction | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Particles | Sediment | Removes particles | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Particles | Rust | Removes particles | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Particles | Turbidity | Certified turbidity reduction | Ceramic microfiltration |
| Microplastics | Microplastics | Certified reduction | Ceramic + carbon filtration |
| Heavy Metals | Lead | Certified reduction | Carbon + ion exchange media |
| Heavy Metals | Mercury | Reduces heavy metals | Carbon adsorption |
| Heavy Metals | Cadmium | Reduces heavy metals | Carbon adsorption |
| Heavy Metals | Copper | Reduces heavy metals | Carbon adsorption |
| Heavy Metals | Chromium | Reduces heavy metals | Carbon adsorption |
| Heavy Metals | Nickel | Reduces heavy metals | Carbon adsorption |
| Heavy Metals | Zinc | Reduces heavy metals | Carbon adsorption |
| Chemicals | Chlorine | Certified reduction | Activated carbon |
| Chemicals | Chloramines | Reduces disinfectants | Activated carbon |
| Chemicals | Trihalomethanes (THMs) | Reduces disinfection byproducts | Activated carbon |
| Agricultural Chemicals | Pesticides | Reduces agricultural chemicals | Activated carbon |
| Agricultural Chemicals | Herbicides | Reduces agricultural chemicals | Activated carbon |
| Industrial Chemicals | VOCs | Reduces volatile organic compounds | Activated carbon |
| Pharmaceuticals | Trace pharmaceuticals | Reduces pharmaceutical residues | Activated carbon |
| Emerging Contaminants | PFAS (PFOA) | Reduces PFAS compounds | Advanced carbon media |
| Emerging Contaminants | PFAS (PFOS) | Reduces PFAS compounds | Advanced carbon media |
| Taste & Odor | Chlorine taste | Improves taste and odor | Activated carbon |
NSF Certifications
British Berkefeld Ultra Sterasyl filters are certified by NSF, one of the most recognized water filtration certification organizations in the world.
These certifications verify that filtration claims have been tested using standardized laboratory procedures.
| NSF Standard | Certification Meaning |
|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI 42 | Certified to reduce chlorine, taste, and odor |
| NSF/ANSI 53 | Certified to reduce health contaminants such as cysts and heavy metals |
| NSF/ANSI 401 | Certified to reduce emerging contaminants including microplastics |
| NSF/ANSI 372 | Certified lead-free materials |
How Berkefeld Ceramic Filtration Works
British Berkefeld filters use a multi-stage filtration system designed to remove a wide range of contaminants while maintaining reliable flow in gravity-fed systems.
The outer ceramic shell acts as a microfiltration barrier, blocking bacteria, sediment, microplastics, and other particulate contaminants.
Inside the ceramic shell is activated carbon filtration media, which reduces chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and organic compounds that affect taste and odor.
Some Berkefeld filters also contain specialized media designed to reduce heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
Because gravity filtration allows water to pass slowly through the filter media, the water remains in contact with the filtration materials longer, improving contaminant reduction without electricity or water pressure.
What Berkefeld Filters Do Not Remove
| Contaminant | Recommended Solution |
|---|---|
| Fluoride | Use Berkefeld Ultra Fluoride filters |
| Salt / dissolved minerals | Reverse osmosis filtration |
| Viruses | Ultrafiltration or UV purification |
Common Questions About Berkefeld Filtration
Does Berkefeld remove bacteria?
Yes. Berkefeld ceramic filters reduce bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella through ceramic microfiltration.
Does Berkefeld remove lead?
Yes. Berkefeld filters are designed to reduce lead and other heavy metals using carbon filtration media.
Does Berkefeld remove chlorine?
Yes. Berkefeld filters are NSF certified to reduce chlorine, improving taste and odor.
Does Berkefeld remove microplastics?
Yes. Berkefeld filters help reduce microplastics and particulate contaminants through ceramic microfiltration.
Does Berkefeld remove PFAS?
Berkefeld filters help reduce PFAS contaminants such as PFOA and PFOS using advanced carbon filtration media.
Berkefeld Contaminant Index
Aluminum
Bacteria
Benzene
Cadmium
Chlorine
Chloramines
Chromium
Copper
Cryptosporidium
E. coli
Giardia
Herbicides
Iron
Lead
Mercury
Microplastics
Nickel
Organic chemicals
Pesticides
PFAS
Pharmaceutical residues
Rust
Sediment
Sulfur odor
Trihalomethanes
Turbidity
Volatile organic compounds
Zinc