Water can contain a certain number of minerals in the form of dissolved ions, negatively charged (anions), or positively charged (cations). This ionic form is assimilated by the human body. These minerals include calcium (Ca++), carbonates (CO3--), bicarbonates (HCO3-), chlorides (Cl-), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg++), sodium (Na+), nitrates (NO3-) and sulfates (SO4--).

The media contained in Black Berkey® purification elements is not designed to remove these beneficial minerals (in ionic form) from the water. They can certainly be reduced if they are highly concentrated, but most will pass through the filters and into your filtered water.

If you still want to add additional minerals to your water, we recommend using liquid additives and incorporating them into the lower chamber of your Berkey® system so that their concentration is not reduced.

Finally, we are often asked what the dry residue rate is after filtration. The answer is simple: if you understand that the mineral concentration is the same before and after filtration, the dry residue level is also the same and depends entirely on the water you are filtering.

Limestone is in fact a form of calcium called calcium carbonate. It is rich in calcium but also in dissolved magnesium (mineral salts essential to health). The presence of calcium in water is natural. It comes from the soil that the water has passed through before being pumped and made drinkable. Calcium is a natural element and tap water can provide up to 25% of daily calcium intake. So why remove it?

Well, Berkey® filters do not remove it! The mineral salts are therefore present in the filtered water, for your well-being, unlike the pollutants, which are filtered out.

If, however, deposits accumulate in the tanks due to very hard water, it is sufficient to clean them from time to time with white vinegar and lukewarm water, for example. The filters can be scrubbed on the outside with a soft brush or Scotch-Brite® to clean them and remove any clogged pores.