Everybody knows that Berkey water filters are an excellent way to take contaminants out water and purify it, but not as many people know about how to keep that water fresh. The Black Berkey water filters in a Berkey are so powerful that they take everything out of the water, including the chemicals that inhibit the grow of mold and other things that can begin to grow in untreated water.
When water is left in the clean water chamber of a Berkey water filter there really isn’t much there to keep the water from becoming a host to mold spores floating around in the air naturally. When the mold spores find a home in the clean water chamber, and the right temperatures are present, they can create a musty odor and make the taste of the water change. This most often happens in the winter where homes have high heat and humidity and also happens in climates like the Southern States of the United States where it can become very humid and warm. But there is a quick and easy solution.
The best way that we have found is to put a couple of drops of Stabilized Oxygen in the clean water chamber. A couple of drops will last a few weeks from our experience, but your will need to experiment for the right amount for your situation. Another trick that many people use is to use a pure silver coin. In the old days, when the pioneers would travel across the plains, it is said that a silver coin placed in a wood water barrel would act like a sterilizing agent, killing whatever may be lurking in the water.
So if you are having trouble with your water smelling or tasting a bit musty after it has been sitting for a few days, give these two ideas a try. And always remember to clean your Berkey every month or so. Just spray down the lower chamber with some vinegar or use some soap and water and give the lower chamber a good cleaning. After cleaning the lower chamber, make sure that you rinse it well.
Enjoy your Berkey water filter. And don’t forget that you can always find parts in the Berkey water filter replacement parts at DisasterStuff.com.
