Introduction

Berkley, www.Berkeywaterfilters.com , water filtration, are sterilization and filtration devices designed for camping and hiking uses.   (They are also known as Berkey and Berkley) 

AquaSafeStraw that has been specifically specifically designed for travelling, hiking and disaster situations.  This product is safe for all to use, irrespective of health conditions, known and unknown, due to its chemical free membrane filtration system.

For the purpose of comparison, we are looking at AquaSafeStraw against the Berkey’s - Sport Berkey Portable Water Filter (bottle devices).

Filtration/ Purification/ Sterilization Methods

The Berkey’s Sport Berkey Portable Water Filter uses and Ionic Adsorption Micro Filtration technology to remove bacteria.   As water passes through Ionic Absorption filter, the bacteria and the like are attracted to filter and are either destroyed or neutralised.

The AquaSafeStraw uses a polyethylene membrane that filters down to 0.2 micron, exceeding the US CDC recommendation of 1 micron to effectively remove Giardia and Cryptosporidium.  AquaSafeStraw is free of potentially harmful chemicals.

The AquaSafeStraw will not allow water to pass through the device when the filter is no longer effective; this is a safe guard for you, ensuring that you know when to replace the straw. The AquaSafeStraw is safe for all to use.

Reliability and state of mind

Both the Berkey and AquaSafeStraw have past extensive testing to verify their specification when the product is in prime condition. 

The Berkey Sport Berkey Portable Water Filter relies on the electrical charge to destroy bacteria when it passes through the filter devices.    Berkey suggests to use either chlorine or iodine drops to be added to remove pathogens. There is no indication when the “Ionic absorption” filtration device in the water bottle stops working.    Unlike the AquaSafeStraw, the Berkey water bottle still passes water even thought the “ionic absorption material” is ineffective. AquaSafeStraw will not let water pass through the device when no longer effective.

The AquaSafeStraw, when the membrane becomes congested the water stops flowing.   This is a great safeguard for you

Cost per gallon/litre

Berkey Classic costs $29.00 per unit and purifies 160 times from any source and 640 from Municipal water.  That’s approximately 80 and 320 litres respectively or 36.25 cents/litre and 9 cents/litre respectively.

Compared to 7 cents is a litre or 26.5 cents per gallon for the AquaSafeStraw

Portability

AquaSafeStraw is light weight 24 grams, 21cm long unit, and 1.8cm diameter. The product can fit in your pocket.

The Berkey Sports bottle is the same size as a standard water bottle

Ease of Use

To fill the Berkey Sports Bottle, you pour unfiltered water into the container and start drinking.

The water you drink through an AquaSafeStraw is clean water filtered to 0.2 microns, which exceeds by a factor of five the US CDC requirements to effectively remove Giardia, Cryptosporidium etc, from the water.

Speed to access of water

Both the AquaSafeStraw and Berkey Sports Bottle is ready for both immediate usage and storage

Product Safety

Care must be taken when using the Berkey devices.  Berkey have suggested adding iodine or chlorine drops into water. Care must be taken on how much of these chemicals are added to the water. Iodine is contraindicated for many medical conditions.

There are US Army reports suggesting that the level of iodine and chlorine used to destroy Giardia or Cryptosporidium in water (to keep it drinkable and within EPA Guidelines) is effective.   The levels of chemicals need to be considerable higher to penetrate the hard shells of the cysts (Giardia and Cryptosporidium).  With the higher levels of chemical it would make the water undrinkable in the short term.

In addition, there is a growing body of evidence that when water passes through ionic filters, they are ineffective as the time is insufficient to attract the bacteria and Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

It should be noted that chemical in water has the potential adverse effect for young children, people with a Thyroid conditions (many people are unaware of their medical conditions) and pregnant women. 

Finally, there is no indication when the Ionic Absorption in the Berkey filter will stop working and after how many uses.   They suggest after 640 for municipal water and 160 from any source.  How do you know when it stops being effective?   Whereas the AquaSafeStraw will stop working, water will no longer pass through the device when no longer effective.

Bacteria and Virus removal properties

The Berkey Sports Bottle filtrates and purifies the water.  Berkey’s specification suggests it removes bacteria, protozoa, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, it recommends to also use chemicals to achieve this.

Whereas the AquaSafeStraw, without chemicals, removes the bacteria, protoza, Giardia and Cryptosporidium.  The AquaSafeStraw filters out 99.9999% of bacteria, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, filtering to 0.2 microns exceeding the America’s Centre of Disease Control and prevention (www.cdc.gov) recommendation of filtering to a minimum of 1 micron.  The AquaSafeStraw exceed this by a factor of 5.

AquaSafeCorp is about to release two new products, AquaSafeBottle and  AquaSafeStraw+, that filters down to 0.01 micron below the size of viruses

How can AquaSafeStraw be so cost effective and be an effective water filtration system?

How does AquaSafeStraw be technologically advanced and be so price competitive? 

AquaSafeCorp have taken state of the art materials and technologies, along with advanced manufacturing techniques (patented) to produce a cost effective advanced product

Product Characteristics

Berkey Classic 

AquaSafeStraw

Price (RRP)

$ 29.00US

$44.95 US

Capacity Volume of water

320 Litres/  80gallon

500 litres /132 gallon

Volume cost pf filtered water

36.25cents/litre
(excluding chemical costs)

500 litres /132 gallon

Recommended to use chemical purification

Yes

No

Free of chemicals

No

Yes safe for all

Filtration Methods

Ionic absorption and chemical

Reverse osmosis
Micro filtration capillary membrane

Filtration levels

Not Specified

0.2 micron

Exceeds CDC recommendations

unknown

Yes

Approved by relevant authorities

Yes

Yes

Chemicals

Yes

No

Satisfies US Army recommendation for water filtration

No

Yes

Ease of Use

Very Easy

Very Easy

Reputable manufacturing standards

Yes

Yes

Longevity

Yes

Yes

Stop working once filtration stops working

No

Yes

Portability/size

Not Specified

21 cm long x 1.8 cm diameter
24 grams

Disposal

Land fill

Recycle