Big Berkey Review, Is Big Berkey Non-Toxic?
Big Berkey averages 98 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 8 Big Berkey products graded as of October 2026, and all 8 reach its 70 point pass mark.
Big Berkey grades Excellent on our four-band scale. On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. See what every brand has published about PFAS for how that compares.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does Big Berkey have PFAS, by category
Worth buying from Big Berkey Good or better, best-graded first
Big Berkey
Empty Housing with NO Filters Included
- Stainless steel housing and spigot
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth and biofilm if filters not replaced, Any gravity-fed water filter risks harboring bacteria…
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Berkey Big Water Filter System
- Activated carbon and resin filter elements, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth / biofilm in filter housing, Any gravity-fed pitcher system can harbor bacteria if the…
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Water Filter System
- Stainless steel housing, activated carbon and mineral filters
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in lower chamber, Gravity-fed systems with standing water in the lower collection chamber…
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Royal Berkey Water Filter System
- Stainless steel housing; activated carbon and mineral-based filter media
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in filter media if maintenance neglected, Activated carbon can harbor bacterial biofilm if…
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Berkey BK4x2-CF Big Berkey Water Filter System
- Stainless steel canister; activated carbon + ceramic filters
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in filter cartridges and housing, Gravity filters with standing water can harbor biofilm if…
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Stainless Steel Spigot Bundle
- Stainless steel spigot/valve
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial biofilm and growth in valve cavity, Stainless steel spigots can harbor bacteria and mold in…
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Water Filter
- Stainless steel, ceramic/carbon/mineral filters, glass
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in standing water (filter maintenance gap), Gravity filters rely on user discipline to…
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey
Gravity-Fed Stainless Steel Countertop Water Filter System 2.25 Gallon with 2 Authentic Black Berkey Elements BB9-2 Filters
- stainless steel body; activated carbon/specialty media filter elements (composition unspecified)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in filter media if maintenance intervals are missed, Gravity filters with activated carbon…
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
What to buy instead Good or better, in the categories Big Berkey sells
Aquamira
Water Storage Treatment 2 oz Glass Bottles 60 gallons Purification
- glass bottles, sodium dichloroisocyanurate treatment chemical
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Chemical overdose or misuse
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
LifeStraw
Home Glass Water Filter Pitcher
- Borosilicate glass pitcher, replaceable activated-carbon filter cartridge
- Bacterial growth in filter cartridge if unmaintained
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Brita
20 oz Carbon Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle
- Stainless steel bottle with activated carbon filter cartridge
- Bacterial/microorganism growth in filter cartridge
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Big Berkey and PFAS, common questions
- Does Big Berkey have PFAS?
- Big Berkey averages 98 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 8 Big Berkey products graded as of October 2026, and all 8 reach its 70 point pass mark. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Big Berkey non-toxic?
- Big Berkey Empty Housing with NO Filters Included is the highest-graded Big Berkey product we have scored, at 100/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Big Berkey products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Big Berkey products we have scored are Big Berkey Empty Housing with NO Filters Included, Berkey Big Water Filter System, Big Berkey Water Filter System. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →