I never used to think about the water we drank.
In fact, I thought most people who worried about whether their water was filtered were a little high maintenance. I was a self-proclaimed “tap water girl.”
It was only once we were preparing to leave Okinawa a few years ago that I started to take a second look. A friend of mine explained how being a military base, a lot of chemicals had been buried into the ground or leeched into the ground from chemical spills and that it’s nearly impossible to get out of the water.
I stood there silently as I recalled going through my entire second pregnancy and a year of breastfeeding while drinking the potentially contaminated water.
Not a soul ever said I shouldn’t drink the water.
And as recently as May of this year, Japanese officials have continued to warn local nationals NOT to drink the water surrounding Kadena Air Base due to unsafe levels of contaminants. Even the Washington Post covered this big controversy.
After digging deeper into some of the water issues at Camp Lejuene and bases in South Carolina, it became obvious to me that this was an issue I was no longer willing to take a chance on.
Adding fuel to the fire, was a recent article that detailed numerous military bases that tested too high for dangerous water chemicals.
Here’s the hard part.
Halting the use of dangerous firefighting foams and switching to “safer” options is a start; however, the remnants of past chemical contamination remains. Once it’s in the water table, it’s not all that easy to get out.
Three Colorado communities are looking at an 11 million dollar bill to clean up their water due to firefighting foams used at Peterson Air Force Base.
Many military bases tout safe water.
I get it.
The drinking water might be safe.
But, I’m no longer willing to play Russian roulette with my drinking water, only to find out two decades later that it contained contaminants known to cause cancer and organ failure.
There’s another problem for military families with any water contaminants near military bases: It is very hard to prove.
With military families moving every few years, it’s difficult to know which water source may have contributed to disease. A disease that may not show up for 10-20 years.
To go back and say, it was this base that we lived at 15 years ago is a hard thing to do.
Regardless if the water is deemed safe or not, we do not drink the tap water.
For a while we were purchasing water from a reverse osmosis water station and filling four 5-gallon jugs once every week to week and a half. We would pour it into a water dispenser and used it for everything from cooking to drinking to making coffee.
The only problem with the jugs is they are heavy, and when we ran out of water, we would need to make a trip to the water station and get them refilled. On top of that, reverse osmosis does not reduce volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) or endocrine disruptors.
At home water filters like a Brita or PUR, aren’t enough. They offer basic filtration by reducing chlorine, but are not effective at removing VOCs, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors or fluoride.
(Side note: If fluoride has any benefit, it would be directly to the teeth, as drinking the fluoride has not been statistically shown to increase oral health at all. Additionally, fluoride has been linked to thyroid problems and other disorders when consumed internally.)
To read more on water filtration options and see all the pros and cons, check out this post on water filtration options from Wellness Mama.
Here’s what we use now:
Berkey recently gifted us a water filter and dispenser, and we will never go back.
The Berkey filter gets out…
- Fluoride – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Viruses – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Pathogenic Bacteria – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Lead – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Arsenic – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Iron – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Mercury – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Chlorine – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Trihalomethane(THMs) – Removed to greater than 99.8%.
- Bisphenol-A – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Chloramines – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Pharmaceuticals – Removed to greater than 99.5%.
- Petroleum Contaminants – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Methylcyclohexane-methane – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Pesticides – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Heavy Metals – Removed to greater than 99.1%.
- Coliform and e-Coli – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Atrazine – Removed to greater than 99.9%.
- Uranium – Removed to greater than 97.0%.
- Gross Alpha emitters – Removed to greater than 98.7%.
When it comes to filtering water in your home, this is the best you can get. You can read more about the Berkey test results here.
It’s really easy to use.
All you do is add more water in the top. It goes through the filter and into the bottom reservoir. Then viola, place glass or pitcher under spout and dispense. It’s easy to take with us if we are going camping or traveling somewhere with the car. Just take along and filter as you go. It saves on buying bottled water and the plastic waste that goes along with all of that.
Berkey has all different types and sizes of water filters, but the one we have is the 1.5 gallon Travel Berkey.
Here are all the features that come along with the Travel Berkey…
- Great for 1-3 People
- Comes Standard with 2 Black Berkey Filters at $249 (4¢ per Gallon!)
- 2 Black Berkeys Filter Approx 6000 Gallons of Water
- Storage Capacity: 1.5 Gallons (5.7 Liters)
- Height: 19″
- Diameter: 7.5″
- Portability: The upper chamber nests within the lower chamber for transport and stands only 12″ in height
- Weight: 8 lbs (2 BB Elements)
- Max Filters: 2 Black Berkeys (upper) + 2 PF-2 Fluoride Filters (lower)
To help give back and spread the word about Berkey filters, I’ve partnered with Berkey to giveaway a 1.5 gallon Travel Berkey to one of YOU.
In order to enter, all you need to do is two things:
- Comment below about how you consume water – via the tap, a filter, a water station or something else.
- And include in your comment if you’re thinking about making a change.
This giveaway will be open for one week (closes Aug 10, 2019) and I’ll name the winner in the comments and email the winner to get the shipping information. The water filter and dispenser will arrive to your doorstep directly from Berkey!
Want more on military life?
- The Reality of Surviving a Surprise PCS Move
- 13 Totally Awesome Military Spouse Facebook Groups You Didn’t Know About
- To My Military Spouse Friends…You’ll Never Know
- 21 Best Deployment Quotes for Military Spouses and Significant Others
Holly Wheeler
We use a PUR filter.
At our home town, it worked great and really made a difference (I refused to drink from the tap, it tasted awful!). But we just moved to my husband’s first PDS and the water tastes awful even with the filter so I’ve been looking for something to switch to.
Trish
We drink water from bottled water unless I’m drinking coffee I typically use tap for this thinking it being boiled is fine. Was considering using filter but after reading this article think safe bet is spend a little extra money on bottled water. Thank you for post.
Myia
Right now we drink the filtered water from the refrigerator. But I have looked into the Berkey and always wanted to get one.
Ashlynd
We currently use a PUR filter. This article gave so many insights into why making a change is a good idea.. so many things I never thought about! I didn’t realize how much there really is to filter out of water and that filtered water should be used for more than drinking, like cooking. I would love to make a change to a filter like the Berkey that would actually give my family and I safe water to use!
Rebecca Gillen
We use a PUR filter on our kitchen sink. Just like you though, I feel like it isn’t enough filtration and I need something better, so I’m trying to find other options that would be better.
Allison Hylton
We live in Albuquerque and have such hard water. People have been saying that the tap water is so very horrible and that it contains a lot of heavy metals. I have tried filters but no matter what we do we can’t find a water filter system that can help enough. The water even tastes gross. We end up having to fill jugs at Whole Foods to get pure water. It is a hassle. It would be amazing to try this water filter system and finally get pure water without all the hassle. ?
Alyssa Willson
We drink a lot of water. I have a toddler who I only give water to. We use a PUR filter right now but I am definitely looking to upgrade to a better one. I am so worried about what gets through the other filter. Hope whoever wins uses it. There is all kinds of things in the water on base.
Adriana Carrazco
I had no idea the water on bases could be that bad. We have a Primo water station we got from Sam’s Club. We refill our two 5 gallon jugs once evey 2wks. My husbands new orders are for Japan and we are moving there for 3yrs. The water situation is definitely scary thing and I need to make sure our water is as filtered as can be. For my families health especially my daughter. I’m sure whoever wins it will be putting it to good use.
Madison Hutto
I have always drank purified bottled water. I would love to make a change to help to environment for future generations.
Pauline Magnusson
Wow. Wow. Wow.
We’re “just” a reserve family that’s moved 4 times in the last 7 years, and there are installations we’ve lived on that have me seriously reconsidering our water drinking habits.
1. We generally drink either fridge filtered water or tap (I don’t like cold water, so I’m a tap drinker).
2. We are considering a change.
Alex Rosselli
My fiance and I use a brita filter, though with our impending move next year, and after reading this article, I am definitely thinking of a change.
KateLynn
We just moved onto base for the first time and after reading a local article and seeing test results I am definitely looking into safer water options. We’re currently using a pur on tap filter plus a Brita pitcher until we can afford something that is more effective.
Ms. F
We go to the water filling station every week. I’ve heard about the Berkley system before but did not realize it filters out so many contaminants. Definitely worth considering.
Kayla Baird
We drink tap water. I have been thinking alot about getting a purifying filter lately, think it will be healthier then drinking the tap water.
Jennifer
Love this, and the timing couldn’t be better! We have been drinking filtered water from our refrigerator, which uses a GE Smart Filter. A friend introduced me to Berkey about three years ago and I’ve wanted one ever since. However, the cost (and my husband’s uncertainty of it being any better than our fridge filter) have kept me from purchasing one. We PCSed three weeks ago and moved into our base home on Thursday only to discover black mold growing under the sink and in the fridge ice and water dispenser on Friday. I’m so disgusted I’m absolutely wanting to switch to a Berkey!
Amanda Pierce
We drink from the tap but have recently been considering making a change
Krystyn Mast
We use tap water at our duty station. I don’t really worry about it for my husband and I but I am a little worried about how it can effect ours kids. I have been debating a change but trying to figure out all the research and the money to afford a berkey has been a lot of work! Thank you for this post and resources!
Kylie H
We use tap water and I have never considered the consequences until now. Now I am definitely going to have to make a change.
Jennifer
August 4, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Reposting here because I think I accidentally replied to someone else’s comment above… Love this, and the timing couldn’t be better! We have been drinking filtered water from our refrigerator, which uses a GE Smart Filter. A friend introduced me to Berkey about three years ago and I’ve wanted one ever since. However, the cost (and my husband’s uncertainty of it being any better than our fridge filter) have kept me from purchasing one. We PCSed three weeks ago and moved into our base home on Thursday only to discover black mold growing under the sink and in the fridge ice and water dispenser on Friday. I’m so disgusted I’m absolutely wanting to switch to a Berkey!
Sara Edick
We’re stationed in 29 Palms now and the water is terrible. We’re forced to buy bottled water and man it’s expensive! We’re looking for a change for our house since we bought here, but it’s challenging.
Anna Litchfield
We are looking for a better filter system. We’re on Ft Benninf, our entire neighborhood has undergone lead abatement for the walls AND bath tubes. They have replaced SOME of the water lines to the houses, but not all. I am pregnant and we have resorted to the 5 gallon jugs as well.
Courtney S
We use a PUR filter and drink from the tap most of the time. We currently live on a military base (3rd one in 6 years), I’ve always been worried about what’s in the tap water. I’ve never heard of the Berkley filtration before but I would love to get one!
Caitlyn Wiseman
We do bottled water. This actually became a huge issue for us when we learned about areas like Anniston after moving to Alabama. We also don’t drink soda or anything, so we go through A LOT of water. We buy about 4 crates every time we go to the commissary. Absolutely going to look into the Berkey filter! Thank you so much for bringing attention to this. More families need to know!
Tanya Villa
We use water bottles.
I am actually thinking about changing once we have our own home. It would be easier to have our own stuff in our own home.
Brooke
Just arrived at our next duty station and everyone is telling me to not drink the water. My recycling heart can’t handle all the plastic that would need to go through my house SO THIS post just was a gift form above. So thankful I read it and can look at other options to keep my family safe and the environment happy. Thank you!!!
Brandy
We use the filtered on our fridge and tap water but now I’m skeptical. We grew up on farms far from the airy where the underground water table was your only source. After reading this article though I will definitely start researching other systems.