Short answer: AquaTru wins, and it’s not close. AquaTru has NSF certification for 84 contaminants including PFAS. Berkey was hit with an EPA stop-sale order in 2023 for marketing as a water purifier without EPA registration — and still has no independent NSF certification for any of its contaminant removal claims.
This used to be a real debate. For years, Berkey had a devoted following — moms, preppers, health-conscious families — all swearing by their stainless steel gravity filters. I understood the appeal. The Berkey looked serious, it didn’t need electricity, and the company made bold claims about what it removed.
Then October 2023 happened, and the conversation changed completely. Let me walk you through what happened, how these two filters actually compare, and which one I recommend if you’re buying in 2026.
The Berkey Situation — What Happened
In October 2023, the EPA issued a stop-sale order to New Millennium Concepts, Berkey’s parent company. The issue was straightforward: Berkey was marketing its Black Berkey filter elements as “purification” devices — claiming 99.999% removal of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Here’s the problem. In the United States, if you claim your product “purifies” water by removing bacteria and viruses, that product must be registered with the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This is a consumer safety regulation. Berkey never had that registration.
What the EPA stop-sale order means
The EPA didn’t test the Berkey and find it failed. They ordered Berkey to stop selling because the company was making purification claims without the required EPA registration — and without independent lab verification of those claims. The Black Berkey elements were tested only by the company itself, not by any independent third-party lab like NSF International.
Berkey has since returned to selling its products. But the fundamental issues haven’t changed. As of 2026, Berkey still does not hold NSF/ANSI certification for any of its contaminant removal claims. Their testing data still comes from internal testing, not independent verification.
I want to be fair here: this doesn’t necessarily mean Berkey filters do nothing. Activated carbon and ion exchange are legitimate filtration technologies that do remove some contaminants. But it does mean that the specific numbers Berkey advertises — 99.999% bacteria removal, 99.9% virus removal — have never been independently confirmed. And after the EPA stepped in, that’s a trust issue that’s hard to overlook.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Let’s look at the actual specs side by side. I’ve marked which claims are independently certified and which are manufacturer claims only.
On paper, you could argue the specs are competitive. The Berkey is slightly cheaper, holds more water, and doesn’t need electricity. But there’s one column in that table that overwhelms everything else: certification.
Where AquaTru Wins
The AquaTru’s advantages are the ones that matter most if you’re buying a water filter to actually protect your family’s health.
AquaTru Advantages
- NSF-certified removal of 84 contaminants
- PFAS removal independently verified (NSF P473)
- Lead removal independently verified (99.1%)
- Fluoride removal included — no add-on needed
- Faster filtration (10–15 minutes per gallon)
- Transparent, third-party testing data
Berkey Advantages
- Larger capacity (2.25 gallons vs 1 gallon)
- No electricity required (gravity-powered)
- Stainless steel construction (very durable)
- Slightly lower annual filter cost
- Works off-grid and during power outages
The Berkey advantages are real, and I don’t want to dismiss them. If you live off-grid, if you’re building an emergency preparedness kit, or if power reliability is a concern in your area, a gravity-fed filter has a legitimate practical advantage. The stainless steel body is also genuinely well-built.
But here’s the thing: none of those advantages matter if you can’t trust the contaminant removal claims. A beautiful stainless steel filter that might remove lead isn’t as useful as a plastic countertop unit that is certified to remove lead at 99.1%. When it comes to your kids’ drinking water, I want receipts — not marketing copy.
The Certification Problem — Why It Matters
I know “NSF certification” sounds like boring technical jargon. But here’s why it matters in plain terms.
When a filter has NSF certification, it means an independent laboratory — NSF International, not the company selling you the filter — has tested the product and verified that it actually removes what the company claims. The testing protocols are rigorous and standardized. The filter has to perform consistently, not just once in ideal conditions.
When a filter does not have NSF certification, you’re relying entirely on the manufacturer’s own test data. That’s the company selling you the product telling you it works great. I’m not saying they’re lying — but I am saying that independent verification exists for a reason.
Five separate NSF certifications covering aesthetic contaminants, health contaminants, reverse osmosis performance, emerging contaminants, and PFAS removal. Each one independently verified.
After the EPA issued a stop-sale order specifically because Berkey was making unverified claims, the certification gap isn’t just a technicality. It’s the whole ballgame.
If You Already Own a Berkey
I know a lot of you reading this already have a Berkey sitting on your counter. You might have spent $350+ on it. You might love it. And I’m not here to tell you to throw it in the trash.
Your Berkey almost certainly does filter some contaminants. Activated carbon and ion exchange are proven filtration technologies used across the water treatment industry. Your water coming out of a Berkey is very likely better than unfiltered tap water.
The honest issue is that you can’t know exactly what it’s removing or how much. If your primary concerns are taste and chlorine, the Berkey is probably handling those reasonably well. If your concerns are PFAS, lead, or other specific health contaminants, you genuinely don’t know whether your Berkey is removing them to a level that matters — because no independent lab has confirmed it.
If you can afford to switch, I’d recommend moving to the AquaTru. If you can’t right now, keep using the Berkey. It’s almost certainly better than nothing. But don’t assume it’s handling PFAS or lead just because the marketing says so.
The Bottom Line
If you’re buying a countertop water filter in 2026, get the AquaTru. The NSF certification alone makes it the obvious choice. You know exactly what it removes because an independent lab tested it and confirmed it. In a market full of bold claims and slick marketing, that independent verification is everything.
The Berkey had its moment. I know people who loved theirs, and I understand the loyalty. But after the EPA stop-sale, the ongoing lack of any NSF certification, and the availability of a certified alternative at a similar price point — the math just doesn’t work in Berkey’s favor anymore.
If the AquaTru’s $449 price tag is too steep right now, the Clearly Filtered pitcher at $90–$100 is a solid certified alternative to get you started. Either way, choose something with independent certification behind it. Your family’s water is too important for guesswork.