NFOA MEMBERS FORUM

General Categories => Survival/Emergency Preparedness => Topic started by: Mudinyeri on October 20, 2011, 02:37:34 PM

Title: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: Mudinyeri on October 20, 2011, 02:37:34 PM

I've been looking at the Berkey water filters for an in-place family filtering solution.  The only problem has been the price.  The Imperial Berkey, with 4.5 gallons of water storage, runs about $300.  Even the 2.5 gallon Berkey Light runs more than $200.

So ... I came up with my own DIY version for just the cost of the Berkey filers ($107.00) and a spigot ($10.00).  While that's still not "cheap" it's half the cost and mine holds 4 gallons.

Materials Needed:
2 Black Berkey Filter Elements: $107.00
1 Berkey Light Spigot: $10.00
2 Four-gallon Food-grade Plastic Buckets (free at Sam's Club)

Tools Needed:
Drill
3/8" Drill Bit
5/8" Drill Bit

Step 1: Stack the buckets and drill two 3/8" holes through the bottom of the top bucket and the lid of the bottom bucket

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Water%20Filter/DSCN1753.jpg)

Step 2: Insert the threaded tubes of the filter elements through the bottom of the top bucket and the lid of the bottom bucket.  Screw the keeper nuts onto the filters and tighten them to finger-tight (do not over-tighten).  The included washer should be on the filter tube inside the top bucket.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Water%20Filter/DSCN1754.jpg)

At this point your buckets should look like this:

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Water%20Filter/DSCN1756.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Water%20Filter/DSCN1755.jpg)

Step 3: Drill a 5/8" hole in the side of the bottom bucket near the bottom.  Make sure you leave enough room for the spigot's nozzle below the hole.  Slide the threaded spigot tube through the hole and tighten down the keeper nut.  There should be a washer on either side of the bucket.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Water%20Filter/DSCN1758.jpg)

Your finished filter will look like this.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/Mudinyeri/Water%20Filter/DSCN1760.jpg)

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: sparky on October 20, 2011, 03:06:52 PM

Very well done.  Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: Wesley D on October 20, 2011, 05:22:05 PM

Nice work; I like it.

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: RobertH on October 20, 2011, 09:30:01 PM

have you tested it yet?  does it work pretty good?

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: Mudinyeri on October 21, 2011, 08:16:37 AM

Quote from: RobertH on October 20, 2011, 09:30:01 PM

have you tested it yet?  does it work pretty good?

Haven't had the chance yet.  I'll update when I do.

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: gibbs459 on October 23, 2011, 09:20:43 AM

I have used this setup for over a year now. It works great! I did add the chlorine filters also and used 5 gal buckets for more capacity. The filtering is very slow. Filters about 2.5 gal overnight. So I do recommend the larger buckets for more water on hand.

The water at my tap is nasty. City says it is safe but it tastes awful. So bad I won't even let my dog drink it. With the Berky filters I can't tell a difference between my filtered water and bottled water that has been treated by reverse osmosis. It defiantly makes it better.


Enjoy your new Berky unit!!

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: metaldoc on October 24, 2011, 07:07:59 AM

How long do the filters last?

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: Mudinyeri on October 24, 2011, 07:51:58 AM

Quote from: metaldoc on October 24, 2011, 07:07:59 AM

How long do the filters last?

They're rated at 6000 gallons.

Title: Re: Family Water Filter on the Cheap
Post by: derweibhai on January 25, 2012, 02:22:56 PM

I prefer the monolithic ceramic filter myself, same setup, but the filters are only $21 a piece and filter the same amount of water. They give you a list of all the toxins and pathogens that it filters out, and it covers damn near everything except for some ag chemicals that can not be filtered out.

http://shop.monolithic.com/products/just-water-ceramic-drip-filter (http://shop.monolithic.com/products/just-water-ceramic-drip-filter)