"Purewell vs Berkey" usually means one question: which stainless-steel countertop gravity filter should I buy? Both brands make one. For RV owners the more useful question is what you're filtering and where. This guide covers both.
Up front: RV Parts Giant does not sell Purewell's or Berkey's countertop systems. We stock the Purewell 5-Stage Water Filter Straw and a stainless gravity filter bucket built on the same idea.
How the two countertop systems compare
| Purewell K Series | Big Berkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 1.0, 1.5 and 2.25 gal | 2.25 gal |
| Body | 304 stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Filters | Ceramic-based elements (ceramic, silver ion, activated carbon); a PFAS-reduction version is offered | 2 Black Berkey elements, expandable to 4 |
| Certification claims | Purewell says "independently tested to meet NSF/ANSI 42 & 372" | Berkey relies on its own commissioned lab testing |
| Filter life | Varies by model and filter; check Purewell's listing for your model | Check Berkey's current rating |
Two notes on those claims. NSF/ANSI 42 covers aesthetic effects such as chlorine taste and odor. NSF/ANSI 372 covers lead content in the product's own materials, not lead removal from your water. Look up any "certified" claim in NSF's public listings before relying on it.
The 2023 EPA orders against Berkey
In 2023, EPA Region 8 issued stop-sale orders to Berkey Filters and Berkey International (orders FIFRA-08-2023-0011 and -0038). The issue was how the Black Berkey elements were marketed: EPA treated the silver used "to self-sterilize" the elements as an antimicrobial claim, which made the elements unregistered pesticides. The orders were about registration and labeling, not a finding that the filters made water unsafe. Check the current status before buying.
Why neither is an RV water system
- Size and weight: a 2.25 gal stainless tower full of water is heavy and top-heavy on a moving counter. It has to be emptied and stowed before every drive.
- Speed: gravity filters drip. That's fine at a cabin, slow when four people come off the trail thirsty.
- The rig's plumbing: a countertop filter does nothing for the water in your tank, shower or galley tap. For that, use an inline or canister filter at the hookup. See our hose, filter and regulator order guide and RV water filter replacement guide.
What works better on the road
- Drinking water at camp: a collapsible gravity bag hangs from an awning arm and packs flat. Try the Waterdrop gravity filter or the Membrane Solutions 6L. If you want a stainless bucket, our gravity filter bucket holds 1.5 gal.
- Go-bag and emergency kit: a personal straw such as the Purewell straw, plus Aquatabs for virus risk.
Bottom line
If you want a countertop tower for a house or a park model, compare Purewell's and Berkey's current certifications and filter ratings directly. Read the fine print on what "tested to" means. In a travel trailer or van, a hookup filter for the rig plus a gravity bag and a straw will serve you better than either tower.