With Phoenix elements, NSF International certifies the Big Berkey for chlorine, taste and odor. It needs no power or plumbing and holds 2.25 gallons.
The catch: Only chlorine, taste and odor are certified. Its lead and PFAS results are Berkey’s own lab tests.
Health information, not medical advice. Guidance differs for infants, pregnancy and existing conditions. Test your own water and speak to a doctor or your local health authority. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links; it never affects our scores.
Our verdict
The Big Berkey is a stainless steel gravity filter: you pour tap water into the top chamber, and it drips through two filter elements into the bottom chamber, ready to pour from the spigot. It needs no electricity, plumbing or water pressure, which is why it’s popular for off-grid homes, cabins and emergency kits.
This review covers the Big Berkey sold with Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements, the version on sale now. NSF International certifies it to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine, taste and odor. That’s the only certified reduction. Berkey also publishes lab tests showing lead, PFOA/PFOS and several metals reduced, run by named, accredited labs, and we give those partial credit. The older Black Berkey elements aren’t certified at all, and the EPA has ordered sellers to stop selling them.
You want better-tasting water with no power or plumbing, for off-grid living, travel or emergency backup, and certified chlorine reduction is enough.
You need certified lead, PFAS or fluoride reduction, or you live in California or Iowa, where Berkey doesn’t sell.
How it scored
Contaminant reduction carries the most weight in the overall score. How we score filters
What it removes
Only the first row is certified. The rest are results from lab reports Berkey publishes, labelled for what they are.
| Contaminant | With Phoenix elements | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine, taste and odorNSF/ANSI 42 | Reduced | Certified by NSF International |
| Lead | 99.9%+ | RaYnu Lab test, start of filter life only |
| PFOA / PFOS | Non-detect to 1,500 L | RaYnu Lab test, not certified |
| Mercury, cadmium, copper, chromium | 97 to 99.9%+ | Atom Testing Lab test, not certified |
| Nitrate | 99% | Atom Testing Lab test, not certified |
| Fluoride | 75.5% | Lab test; not enough to count |
| Bacteria, viruses | Not claimed for Phoenix | Not a purifier; see below |
NSF International lists the Big, Royal and Travel Berkey with Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition elements (PGF9-2) under NSF/ANSI 42, for chlorine reduction and taste and odor reduction, with a 1,050-gallon service cycle. Lab results are from Berkey’s published reports: RaYnu Analytical and Research Lab (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, Bangalore) and Atom Testing Lab. The lead result was taken at the start of the filter’s life, not across its rated capacity. A 75.5% fluoride result is below the NSF/ANSI 58 pass level, so we don’t count it.
What it costs to run
Berkey rates each Phoenix element for 2,750 gallons, or 5,500 gallons for the pair the Big Berkey uses. NSF International’s certified service cycle is shorter: 1,050 gallons. A pair costs about $120 on Amazon as we write, so the filter cost is about $0.02 a gallon at Berkey’s rating, or about $0.11 a gallon if you replace at the certified 1,050 gallons.
Black Berkey elements and the EPA
For years Berkey systems shipped with Black Berkey elements. Those aren’t certified by NSF International, IAPMO R&T or WQA. Berkey published lab tests instead; its lead test, run by Envirotek Laboratories, covered 200 gallons.
In December 2022 and May 2023 the EPA issued stop-sale orders to Berkey sellers. The EPA classed Black Berkey elements as unregistered pesticides, because they contain silver and were sold with claims against bacteria and viruses. Berkey challenged the orders in court and lost: on 18 September 2026 the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld the refusal to block them. The orders remain in force.
Berkey’s answer is the Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition element, made in India. It’s the version NSF International certifies, and it’s the version this review covers. Berkey doesn’t sell either element to California or Iowa residents, under its own sales policy.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- No power, plumbing or water pressure needed
- Certified by NSF International for chlorine, taste and odor (Phoenix)
- Lab-tested for lead and PFOA/PFOS by a named, accredited lab
- Stainless steel, holds up to four elements
What to know
- Only chlorine, taste and odor are certified
- Black Berkey elements are under an EPA stop-sale order
- Not sold in California or Iowa
- Counterfeit elements are common; buy the Phoenix listing
What owners say
Owners like the taste and the independence from power and plumbing. Most complaints are about priming the elements and slow filling.
Often praised
- Clean taste
- Works in outages and off-grid
- Sturdy stainless build
Common complaints
- Priming the elements is fiddly
- Slow to fill the lower chamber
- Confusion over genuine versus fake elements
Recurring themes across verified buyer reviews.
Specifications
- Model
- Big Berkey with Phoenix elements
- Elements
- Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition PGF9-2, 2 included
- Certifier
- NSF International
- Certified to
- NSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine, taste and odor)
- Capacity
- 2.25 gal (8.5 L)
- Size
- About 19.25 in tall, 8.5 in wide
- Element life
- 5,500 gal per pair (Berkey); 1,050 gal certified cycle
- Flow
- Up to 4.2 gal an hour per pair (Berkey)
Alternatives worth considering
AquaTru Carafe
PUR PLUS Pitcher
Travel Berkey with Phoenix elements
Common questions
Is the Big Berkey NSF certified?
With Phoenix elements, yes: NSF International certifies the Big Berkey to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine, taste and odor. With the older Black Berkey elements, no.
Does it remove lead or PFAS?
Berkey’s published lab tests, by RaYnu Lab, show lead and PFOA/PFOS reduced, but neither is certified. For certified lead and PFAS reduction see the AquaTru Carafe or the PUR PLUS, and our lead guide.
Can I still buy Black Berkey elements?
Some listings still ship with them, but they aren’t certified. The EPA’s stop-sale orders on Black Berkey elements remain in force after a federal appeals court ruling on 18 September 2026. Berkey now sells Phoenix elements, which are the certified version.
Does it remove fluoride?
Not to a level we count. Atom Testing Lab measured 75.5% fluoride reduction for Phoenix elements, below the NSF/ANSI 58 pass level. See our fluoride guide.
Is it safe for untreated or well water?
It isn’t a certified purifier, and the Phoenix element isn’t claimed for bacteria or viruses. Test well water first and see our well water guide.
The bottom line
The Big Berkey with Phoenix elements is a good choice when power and plumbing aren’t options: it’s certified for chlorine, taste and odor, and Berkey’s lab tests point to more. If you need certified lead or PFAS reduction, choose a filter certified for them, like the AquaTru Carafe. Buy the Phoenix version, not Black Berkey elements. Compare options in our gravity filter guide.
- Certifier listings: NSF International, NSF/ANSI 42, New Millennium Concepts Ltd: Big, Royal and Travel Berkey with Phoenix PGF9-2 elements, chlorine and taste and odor, 1,050-gallon service cycle.
- Also searched: IAPMO R&T (New Millennium Concepts) and WQA (Berkey, New Millennium Concepts): no listings. NSF International: no listing for Black Berkey elements.
- Maker documents: Berkey's Phoenix element page, Berkey's Black Berkey test results page and its California and Iowa sales policy.
- Independent lab tests: RaYnu Lab (ISO/IEC 17025), PGF9-2: lead, metals and VOCs (Sept 2025), PFOA/PFOS to 1,500 L (Oct 2025); Atom Testing Lab, PGF9-2: metals, nitrate, fluoride (2026).
- Regulatory records: EPA stop-sale orders FIFRA-08-2023-0011 and FIFRA-08-2023-0038; US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, No. 24-1917 (18 September 2026).
Sources
Prices as of October 14, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.