I’ve been more concerned lately about all things related to my preparedness infrastructure, especially power, food, and water. With concerns over AI draining power and water resources and no signs of slowing down, I’ve had a renewed interest in our water-related preparedness. That’s why, last week, I changed out our water storage only to realize that I did it wrong after the fact. Lessons learned, I guess.
I got to thinking that maybe I need to buy new filters for our Berkey filter. So, I sauntered on over to Amazon and nearly fainted when I saw the price for a pack of two is now over $280. I swear I didn’t pay close to that much not that long ago, which prompted me to check. On February 1, 2022, I paid $154 for a pack of two … that’s an 83% price increase (roughly 27% per year) in a little over three years!
Now, I’m not blaming Berkey; their stuff is great! But something is wrong. I can’t afford such astronomical prices for filters. That said, I have tried off-brand filters and deeply regretted doing so. Thus, I caution you about buying anything other than the original, name-brand filters when it comes to something as crucial as water treatment.
Still, the price difference is horrid, so much so that I wondered what a new Berkey filter system would cost; it’s currently $485 as compared to $313 (a 54% price difference or roughly 4% per year) when I bought mine roughly thirteen years ago. Well, at least I can count the yearly price percentage increase on one hand, lol.
Although I’m inclined to blame inflation, the internet says it’s legal stuff:
The price of Black Berkey water filters has significantly increased primarily due to a combination of supply chain disruptions and regulatory actions. The most critical factor is the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2022 stop-sale order issued to berkeyfilters.com, a major authorized dealer, which classified the filters as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) due to their silver content, which has antimicrobial properties This action, which was not applied to other similar products, led to the closure of berkeyfilters.com in December 2023 after a prolonged period of being unable to sell products, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of authorized dealers and a consequent scarcity of the filters As a result, the filters became much harder to find, driving up prices to over $200 per pair The scarcity has been exacerbated by the fact that the manufacturer, New Millennium Concepts, has not pursued NSF certification, which would allow for broader sales, particularly in California, and the company has not provided a clear explanation for this decision This lack of certification and the resulting market restrictions have created a situation where the filters are now almost impossible to find through traditional channels, contributing to their high cost
- Regulatory Action and Dealer Closure: The EPA’s classification of the filters as pesticides and the subsequent stop-sale order to berkeyfilters.com, a key distributor, caused the company to cease operations in December 2023, drastically reducing the available supply
- Scarcity and Market Dynamics: The closure of a major dealer and the lack of new authorized sellers have created a significant scarcity, leading to inflated prices as demand remains high and supply is limited
- Lack of Certification: The manufacturer’s refusal to pursue NSF certification, which is required for sale in California and provides a standard for performance comparison, has further restricted the market and contributed to the perception of risk and uncertainty, potentially influencing pricing
Still, if I can’t afford the so-called gold standard in water treatment, I may have to look elsewhere. Suggestions?
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