Big Berkey® Water Filter – 8.5L
Versatile gravity-fed filtration for everyday family use.
The Big Berkey® is one of the most popular systems in the Berkey range and an ideal choice for households of around 2–4 people.
Its 8.5-litre capacity offers a practical balance between filtered-water storage and benchtop size, making it well suited to everyday home use, caravans, off-grid living and emergency preparedness. With no electricity or plumbing required, it provides convenient gravity-fed filtration wherever you need it.
Each original Big Berkey is supplied with two genuine Black Berkey® Elements and can accommodate up to four elements when faster filtration is required.
Big Berkey at a Glance
8.5-litre filtered-water capacity
Ideal for approximately 2–4 people
Supplied with 2 Black Berkey® Elements
Expandable to 4 filter elements
Filters up to approximately 13 litres per hour with 2 elements
Up to approximately 20.5 litres per hour with 4 elements
No electricity or plumbing required
AISI 304 stainless-steel construction
Black Berkey Elements rated for up to approximately 20,000 litres per pair
Why Choose the Big Berkey?
An excellent everyday size
The Big Berkey sits between the compact Travel Berkey and the larger Royal Berkey, making it a practical option for couples, small families and households wanting enough filtered water available throughout the day without taking up too much bench space.
Its 8.5-litre lower chamber provides noticeably more capacity than the Travel Berkey while still remaining easy to position in most kitchens.
Simple gravity filtration
There are no hoses, electrical connections or permanent installation requirements. Simply fill the upper chamber and gravity draws the water through the Black Berkey® Elements into the lower chamber.
This makes the Big Berkey equally useful at home, in a caravan, at a holiday property or as part of an emergency water setup.
Expandable when you need more flow
The Big Berkey is supplied with two Black Berkey® Elements but can accommodate up to four.
Adding additional elements increases filtration speed, which can be useful for larger households or times when demand for filtered water is higher.
Genuine Black Berkey filtration
Black Berkey Elements have undergone independent laboratory testing against a broad range of drinking-water contaminants including heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides, VOCs and other substances.
They have also been independently tested for reduction of PFOA and PFOS, two of the best-known PFAS “forever chemicals”.
Filter Life
A pair of Black Berkey® Elements is rated for up to approximately 20,000 litres under appropriate operating conditions.
Actual service life will vary depending on incoming water quality, sediment levels, frequency of use, cleaning and maintenance.
We recommend replacing the elements before pushing them to their maximum rated capacity, helping maintain consistently high filtration performance and water quality.
Big Berkey Specifications
Filtered water capacity: 8.5 litres
Recommended household size: approximately 2–4 people
Height: approximately 49cm
Diameter: 21.6cm
Construction: AISI 304 stainless steel
Included filters: 2 Black Berkey® Elements
Maximum filter configuration: 4 elements
Approximate flow rate with 2 elements: up to 13 L/hour*
Approximate flow rate with 4 elements: up to 20.5 L/hour*
What’s Included
Big Berkey® upper stainless-steel chamber
Big Berkey® lower stainless-steel chamber
2 Black Berkey® Elements
Blocking plugs for unused filter holes
Standard Berkey spigot
Stainless-steel lid
Sealing washers and wing nuts
Priming components
Assembly instructions
Optional Upgrades
The Big Berkey can be customised with:
Replacement Filters
Original Big Berkey systems are supplied with Black Berkey® Elements.
When those original elements eventually require replacement, we currently supply Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements as the replacement filter option for compatible Berkey gravity systems.
Testing & Evidence
We believe filtration claims should be easy to check.
Black Berkey® Elements and Phoenix Gravity New Millennium Edition™ Filter Elements have undergone extensive independent laboratory testing, including testing for PFAS, heavy metals, chemicals and numerous other drinking-water contaminants.
View Berkey Filter Testing & Evidence →
Need Help Choosing?
Not sure whether the Big Berkey is the right size or filter configuration for your household?
Contact John at Pure Water 4 Life for friendly, personalised advice.
Phone: 0475 841 779
Email: sales@purewater4life.com.au
Learn More About Choosing Berkey →
*Flow rates vary depending on water level, number of elements installed, filter condition, source-water quality and other operating conditions.
