{"id":20121,"date":"2025-06-27T14:43:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T14:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cocinando.us\/?p=20121"},"modified":"2025-06-27T14:43:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T14:43:26","slug":"boroux-vs-berkey-a-data-driven-comparison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cocinando.us\/?p=20121","title":{"rendered":"Boroux vs Berkey: A Data-Driven Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In this review, we\u2019re going to be specifically comparing the 2.25-gallon Big Berkey<\/a>, with two Black Berkey elements and two PF2 Fluoride filters, and the 3-gallon Boroux Legacy<\/a>, with two Boroux Foundation filters.<\/p>\n

Both did well at reducing most contaminants in our water<\/strong>, but both also had their specific issues: Berkey with aluminum oxide leaching and Boroux with cobalt leaching (Boroux also didn\u2019t remove fluoride). While Boroux has a lot of design improvements compared to Berkey, it still has design shortcomings, including the extremely lengthy filter priming process that we dislike so much about Berkey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfed The Manufacturer: Clearbrook<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before we get into our testing data, we want to share what we\u2019ve learned about the manufacturer of Berkey and Boroux systems (yes, they share the same!): Clearbrook.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Clearbrook<\/a> is a manufacturer specializing in gravity-fed water filter cartridges, including, most notably, the Black Berkey elements.<\/p>\n

After the EPA issued Berkey several Stop Sale, Use or Removal Orders due to a compliance issue with a federal law, Clearbrook collaborated with\u200b James Enterprise Inc. (JEI), which had historically operated as a distributor for Berkey water filter systems through BerkeyFilters.com.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this collaboration, JEI and Clearbrook created EPA-compliant filters<\/a>, leading to the development of the Boroux Foundation filter.<\/p>\n

The Boroux brand was also designed to \u201cimprove functionality\u201d, addressing many of the issues that customers had experienced with Berkey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcca Our Testing Data<\/span><\/h2>\n

We tested and ranked the Boroux Legacy and Big Berkey systems using 6 main criteria. You can see the scores each system obtained across all these criteria in the next table.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Factor<\/th>\nBoroux<\/th>\nBerkey<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Contaminant Reduction<\/td>\n7.80<\/span><\/td>\n8.25<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filtration Rate<\/td>\n7.50<\/span><\/td>\n7.50<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Design<\/td>\n10.00<\/span><\/td>\n7.80<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Setup<\/td>\n6.50<\/span><\/td>\n6.50<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maintenance<\/td>\n8.50<\/span><\/td>\n8.50<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Company<\/td>\n9.40<\/span><\/td>\n9.10<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

For a more in-depth look at the testing data from each test we conducted, see the table below.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Factor<\/th>\nBoroux<\/th>\nBerkey<\/th>\nWinner<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Overall Score<\/td>\n7.96<\/span><\/td>\n8.02<\/span><\/td>\nBerkey<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Health Related Contaminants<\/td>\n7.80<\/span><\/td>\n8.60<\/span><\/td>\nBerkey<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aesthetic Related Contaminants<\/td>\n9.90<\/span><\/td>\n6.70<\/span><\/td>\nBoroux<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Performance Certification<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\nTie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filtration Rate<\/td>\n0.75 GPH<\/td>\n0.75 GPH<\/td>\nTie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Component Quality<\/td>\nExceptional<\/td>\nExcellent<\/td>\nBoroux<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Component Certification<\/td>\nNSF\/ANSI\/CAN 372<\/td>\nnone<\/td>\nBoroux<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Setup<\/td>\nFailing<\/td>\nFailing<\/td>\nTie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Servicing Requirements<\/td>\nWeak<\/td>\nWeak<\/td>\nTie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Costs<\/td>\n$0.011\/ gal<\/td>\n$0.13\/ gal<\/td>\nBoroux<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Warranty Length<\/td>\nSystem: Lifetime
Filters: 1 year<\/td>\n		Lifetime<\/td>\nBerkey<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shipping<\/td>\nFree shipping on orders over $60<\/td>\nFree shipping on orders over $99 to the lower 48 states<\/td>\nBoroux<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Returns<\/td>\n60 days<\/td>\n30 days<\/td>\nBoroux<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

\ud83d\udeb0 Contaminant Reduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Starting with our testing priority: contaminant reduction<\/strong>. In this category, we tested Boroux and Berkey and compared their ability to reduce unwanted impurities and improve our water quality.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The overall scores awarded to the systems were also influenced by whether or not they were performance-certified for contaminant removal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Products We Tested<\/h4>\n