When assembling, handling and shipping the filter elements, they may become loaded with a small amount of dust or harmless fine particles. For this reason, we recommend priming the Berkey® PF-2™ filter elements at both ends to remove the dust and before installing them in your Berkey® system. If this is not done properly, turbidity may occur during the first few water cycles.

The filter elements should be primed for approximately 30 seconds at both ends. It may be necessary to repeat this process up to ten times to remove all dust. An analysis was conducted to determine how turbidity decreases with the number of washings. A summary of the results is available below:

- One wash: turbidity reduced by > 94%.
- Two washes: Turbidity reduced by > 96%
- Three washes: turbidity reduction of a value > 98%

You can read the complete result of this test here

Turbidity will continue to decrease with each filling cycle of your Berkey® system. Although turbidity can be unsightly, it has no adverse health effects.