The Aquasana and the Berkey are two of the best water purification systems that are available on the market. They are easy to install, can remove a large number of known contaminants from your water and they do not require any electricity for them to operate. The Aquasana comes with a flow rate of 0.4 Gallons per Minute, is very easy to install and it occupies very little space on top of your counter while the Big Berkey is quiet, can be used in a wide variety of applications and does not require electricity. But which water purification system is better? We will compare the two water purification systems against each other and will help you make a judgment as to which water purification system is best for you.
Alternatively, just skip to either the Aquasanaor the Berkey on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table Aquasana vs Berkey
| Aquasana AQ-4000W | Big Berkey BK4X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Countertop | Yes | Yes |
| Heavy metal reduction | Yes | Yes |
| Transparent? | No | No |
| Easy to install | Yes | Yes |
| Quiet | Yes | Yes |
| Requires Electricity? | No | No |
| Flow rate | 0.4 Gallons per Minute | 0.033 Gallons per Minute |
| Usage | Indoor only | Indoors and outdoors |
| Filtration method | Carbon filtration | Gravitation force |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Key Similarities between the Aquasana and the Berkey
- Countertop
- Heavy metal reduction
- Non-transparent
- Quiet
- Electricity requirements
- Ease of installation
Key Differences between the Aquasana and the Berkey
- Usage
- Flow rate
- Filtration method
A Comprehensive Comparison between the Aquasana and the Berkey
Heavy Metal Reduction
The Aquasanaand the Berkey are water purification systems. These systems have one simple objective – to remove as many contaminants as possible. Both the Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 are able to reduce contaminants such as lead, mercury, pesticides, chlorine and others. As you noted, some of these contaminants are heavy metals. Heavy metals are notorious for causing a wide variety of problems such as stomach aches and some are rumored to cause cancer. Both the Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 are able to remove such heavy metals.
Countertop
Water purification systems can be installed in quite a large number of configurations. Some can be installed under the sink, some are installed over the counter, and some do not need to be installed at all. The Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 are both similar as both water purification systems simply require you to put them over the counter and screw them to your faucet to get filtered water right from your tap.
Non-Transparent
Some water purification systems come with the facility for you to see through the casing. This allows you to identify any potential problems and address them with great speed. Both the Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 do not have such a design. They are both made from non-transparent materials and this is not a problem as it is quite easy to open them and check if all is well as they are in an easy to reach location. The Aquasana AQ-4000W comes with a white plastic design which is minimalistic and will blend in with your kitchen’s décor with great ease. The Big Berkey comes with a silver finish and this makes it a very stylish accessory to your kitchen.
Ease of Installation
The Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 are very easy to setup and install. Since they are used over the counter, you do not need to worry about having to kneel in awkward positions and get a torch to illuminate your environment. They just require you to place them over the counter and if you are using the Aquasana, you screw it on the faucet and if you are using the Big Berkey you simply pour water into the top of the device.
Maintenance
The Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 are very easy to maintain. Both these water purification systems come with filters that are small and quite easy to change. The process of changing these filters is so easy that you could assign this duty to your kids and they will be able to carry it out without any problems at all.
Electricity
The Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 do not use electricity. The water purification technologies that they use do not require any electricity at all. This results in two things. The first is that you will have very huge cost savings as these systems will not increase your electricity bill unlike other types of water filtration systems.
Noise
Since the Aquasana AQ-4000W and the Big Berkey BK4X2 do not use any electricity, this means that they do not have noisy electric motors and other parts that generate a lot of noise. This results in devices that work very quietly. This will be quite pleasant to homeowners who have young children. Just imagine having your young born crying in the middle of the night because the kitchen’s water purification system woke them up. That would be rather unpleasant. With the Aquasana and the Big Berkey, you do not need to worry about this.
Usage
The Aquasana and the Big Berkey are used for different purposes in different environments. The Big Berkey is able to be used in more environments than the Aquasana. It comes with powerful Berkey filtration elements, a metal outer case and a small tap at the bottom. This allows you to use it in your kitchen, in your office, and even outdoors when camping as the powerful Berkey filtration elements will allow it to purify water from virtually any water source. The Aquasana can only be used indoors.
Flow Rate
The Aquasana is designed to have a much higher flow rate than the Big Berkey. It comes with a flow rate of 0.4 Gallons per Minute. This allows it to process much more water in a given period of time than the Big Berkey. This means that if you have a large family or an office which needs a lot of fresh water to be available at any given time, then the Aquasana will be a very good bet. The Big Berkey comes with a flow rate of just 0.033 Gallons per Minute. This makes it ideal for a small family.
Filtration Method
The Aquasana and the Berkey use different filtration methods. The Aquasana uses carbon filtration. It uses a 3 stagefiltration process in which there is carbon filtration, ion exchange and sub-micron filtration. It has claryum filter technology which gets rid of lots of harmful chemicals while preserving the healthy minerals found in water such as calcium. The Berkey comes with a different purification method. It uses a proprietary purification element. The element uses gravity to move water molecules through the filtration element. To make sure that all the unwanted chemicals are removed, the water remains in contact with the element for a long period of time so that the element absorbs as many contaminants as possible. This is one of the main reasons why the Berkey has a slower flow rate than the Aquasana.
Our Pick
We found the Big Berkey BK4X2 to be highly attractive. This is because it comes with a beautiful silver finish, it is very easy to install, it is highly portable and can be used in a wide variety of environments, and it is very quiet.
Why Do You Need a Water Purification System?
Health
Water from rivers, wells as well as water from taps is polluted with contaminants. These contaminants are not good for the body and they can result in illnesses and some are rumored to even cause cancer. Water purification systems remove harmful contaminants such as pesticides, lead mercury, chlorine, herbicides and more. Both the Aquasana and the Berkey are able to remove such harmful contaminants.
Portability
Due to recent developments in technology, the size of water purification systems has been greatly reduced. In the past, you would need to have large, bulky systems, but nowadays, there are water purification systems that are so small that you can easily carry them around with you and this will allow you to purify your water when you go fishing or camping. The Berkey is a good example of this.
Better Taste of Water
Water purifiers play a pivotal role in eliminating elements that make drinking water to have an unpleasant taste and smell. Such elements include chlorine and bacteria. Through the use of such systems, the taste will be greatly improved. Both the Berkey and the Aquasana give out water that is significantly better tasting than it was before undergoing the purification stage.
Less Consumption of Soap
As you probably know, there is hard water and hard water. The softer water that comes as a result of water purification does not leave minerals. This means that you will end up losing much less soap than you would if there was no purification. This is quite handy when you are cleaning dishes – especially when you are camping. There are usually limited resources present in such environments and stretching each resource will be of paramount importance.
Safety
Just in case you did not know, there is an underground system of pipes that are connected to each other and in many part of the country, these pipes are now old and use designs from a few centuries ago. This means that if another pipe, such as a sewer line gives way, your water can get contaminated. If you have a water purification system you will be protected from contamination.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between the Aquasana and the Berkey
Design
The Berkey’s design is much better than that of the Aquasana. It comes with a silver finish and from just looking at it, you can see that it was made to last. It looks very stylish and it will blend into any environment in which it is put into. It adds that modern feel and this is what makes us love it so much. The Aquasana, however, is more geared towards minimalists as it is comes in a plain white design.
Flow Rate
The Aquasana beats the Berkey hands down in this category. The Aquasana comes with a flow rate of 0.4 Gallons per Minute while the Berkey has a flow rate of 0.033 Gallons per minute. If you have a large office with a lot of thirsty people coming in and out then the Berkey is not for you. If you have a small family then you may consider opting for the Berkey.
Portability
The Berkey is a portable water purification system. You can use it to purify your water on the go. This makes it perfect for carrying it with you for camps, fishing trips and even when you just feel like having a road trip. You will be guaranteed that you will have clean water as it has powerful Berkey filters that are quite powerful.
Maintenance
The Berkey and the Aquasana are both easy to maintain. However, you probably know that no two devices are equally as easy to maintain. One will be easier and cheaper to maintain while the other may be a bit more complicated to maintain. It would be a good idea to actually look for reviews from someone who actually bought one of each to hear what they have to say about the maintenance procedure.
Space
The Berkey is much bigger and bulkier than the Aquasana. It weighs 9.02 pounds and measures 8.5 x 8.5 x 19.25 inches. Now compare that with the Aquasana which weighs 2.99 pounds and measures 12 x 7 x 4 inches. This makes the Aquasana ideal for situations in which you have very limited space on your counter. If you have unlimited space, then the Berkey could be a feasible option for you to go for.
Aquasana vs Berkey FAQs
Do they Use Electricity?
Both the Aquasana and the Berkey do not use any electricity at all. No need to worry about having a high electricity bill because of using these water filters.
Do they Remove Heavy Metals?
Yes they do. Heavy metals are contaminants and both these devices remove as many contaminants as possible including those nasty heavy metals.
Does they Make Noise When Filtering?
The countertop water purifiers do not make any noise when they are filtering. The only audible sound will be from running water when the faucet is turned on.
Can they Filter Ocean Water?
No. Ocean water has very many bad elements present in it. It would be best for you to look for a purification system specially designed for purifying ocean water.
Is Cleaning Hard?
Cleaning the water purification systems is not a difficult task at all. You need not worry about this at all.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the similarities and differences that are present between the Aquasana and the Berkey. We found the Berkey to be the winner. This is because it comes with a gorgeous design, can be used for a lot more applications than the Aquasana, comes with very powerful filters, and is made to last as it has a very durable build which makes us quite confident that it will last for many years.
We included a comprehensive list of features that we believe you need to consider when choosing between the Aquasana and the Berkey. This was aimed at helping you to choose which water purification system best meets your needs for your particular application.
Check out the best water purification system, the Berkey on Amazon.
