The EPA banned Berkey filters, but clean water is still a priority. Here’s why the Boroux Legacy System is now my top pick for everyday use and long-term preparedness.
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What Happened with Berkey Filters?
In December 2022, the EPA made a surprising move. They issued a Stop Sale order against Berkey water filters, which have been trusted for decades by families, preppers, and off-grid homeowners. The reason? The EPA reclassified Berkey’s filters as “pesticides” because they use silver to prevent bacterial growth inside the filter.
This wasn’t a safety issue. The filters still worked. But the government decision disrupted the entire market. People were left without options, and Berkey was forced to stop selling its most popular product.
Why Boroux Stepped In
Rather than sit back and watch, the team behind Boroux decided to create a better solution. They took what worked from the Berkey system and redesigned it to meet EPA requirements. The result is the Boroux Legacy Water Filter System: a gravity-fed, stainless-steel water filter made for long-term use, clean drinking water, and total peace of mind.
- NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 certified by the WQA†
- Third Party Filtration Performance
- Lifetime Warranty on Stainless Steel Chambers
- Eco-Conscious Materials and Packaging
- Filters Up to 24 Months of Water
Why I Recommend the Boroux Legacy System
This is the system I use, and here’s why:
1. Built to Last
- Made from seamless 304 stainless steel
- No welds to rust, no plastic chambers
- Stainless steel spigot with ceramic valve
This system feels solid. It’s designed for everyday use and long-term emergencies.
2. Powerful Filters
The Foundation filters inside the Boroux Legacy system use activated carbon and silver. They remove:
- Chlorine
- Microplastics
- Lead and heavy metals
- VOCs and organic chemicals
- Bad taste and odor
- And while they can’t legally say it, I can: these filters are capable of removing bacteria, protozoa, and even some viruses, making untreated water from rivers, lakes, or rain collection much safer to drink in a survival setting.
Each pair of filters can clean up to 12,000 gallons of water. That’s a long time before needing to replace anything.
3. No Power Needed
This is a gravity-fed system, so it works:
- During power outages
- At remote cabins
- In off-grid homes
- In emergencies
You pour water into the top chamber, gravity does the work, and clean water collects below. No plumbing or electricity needed.
4. Perfect for Preparedness
Clean water is always the top priority in any emergency. This system gives you:
- 3-gallon storage capacity
- Easy daily use for families
- Backup water filtering when the grid goes down
If you’re serious about preparedness, this system belongs in your home.
BOROUX Legacy vs Royal Berkey: What Sets Them Apart
When choosing a gravity-fed water filtration system, small details make a big difference. HOWEVER, I still love Berkey and own two of them as well. But there are differences and Boroux IMO comes out on top:
Key Differences
Filter Protection
- BOROUX: Features a Stem Saver design to prevent filter breakage
- Berkey: No protective support system
Spigot Quality
- BOROUX: Stainless steel spigot with ceramic valve
- Berkey: Basic plastic spigot
Build Quality
- BOROUX: Seamless one-piece stainless steel chambers
- Berkey: Welded or multi-piece construction
Airflow Design
- BOROUX: Vented chambers to prevent airlocks
- Berkey: No venting system, more prone to flow issues
Warranty
- BOROUX: Lifetime warranty on steel chambers
- Berkey: No lifetime warranty offered
Testing Transparency
- BOROUX: Filters are third-party tested to maximum claimed gallonage
- Berkey: Testing is outdated and only extrapolated from 500 ml samples
Trial Policy
- BOROUX: 60-day risk-free trial
- Berkey: No comparable trial offered
From Boroux:
How the Boroux Legacy Filter Works
- Fill the upper chamber with tap water.
- Water flows through carbon-silver filters.
- Contaminants are removed as water drips into the lower chamber.
- Dispense clean, great-tasting water through the spigot.
That’s it. Simple, effective, and reliable.
Final Thoughts
When the government starts banning water filters instead of fixing the water supply, you know something’s off. Boroux responded by doing it right: creating a legally compliant, durable, high-performance water filter system you can actually trust.
This is the filter system I recommend to anyone who values:
- Clean, safe drinking water
- Long-term emergency planning
- Self-reliance and smart preparedness
- Better health outcomes from better water
I keep two (actually more if you count what I have at our cafe) BECAUSE One is none, and two is one. That’s how serious I am about clean water.
If you’re looking for a gravity water filter that works today and when things go sideways, the Boroux Legacy is it.
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Kevin
Wednesday 10th of September 2025
Well,I am concerned about the design/quality of the filters on my Legacy system. I've owned it for less than 30 days to this point. I decided to look into the filter chamber to see how the filters looked. I noticed a bit of calcium on the bottom and decided to clean the base surface with a light surface spray of distilled vinegar. When I rinsed the chamber I noticed one of the filters did not appear to be tight. It wobbled when I touched the top of it. When I tried to tighten the wing nut it was clearly not holding a strong and tight performance, which could not give any compression of the washer between the filter and inside of the filter chamber base. Contacted Boroux and they question how the filter was mounted with the gasket. I confirmed it was done to their instructions. They offered to replace the nuts under warranty this time. That led me to ask a few questions, 1) are you (Boroux service rep. #1) stating you will not replace under your "lifetime warranty" again, as I expressed how easy at which I believe fine threaded plastic can strip...unlike how the plug threads are for the two unused holes. My question was not answered by the rep. My water system is down now because of a small wing nut. Good thing my family is not in a survival/water advisory condition.
2) I then proceeded to ask for a thread size confirmation from Boroux. Service rep #2 stated she did not know the thread size and recommended not to use an alternate nut because it needs to be food grade. I knew the nut needed to be food grade and planned to look at a better way of mounting the filter. The threads on the filter appears to be in good condition, but obviously the nut tightening performance is flawed. No, I did not get an answer on the thread size.
3) I then proceeded to ask the question of how many gallons will the standard filters (Legacy system = 2 filters) filter because I have read 6,000 gal., 12,0000 gal., and I see where Boroux recommends changing the filter(s) annually. Rep. #2, told me with city drinking water Boroux recommends changing the filters annually. So, the question remains which is it? The Boroux advertised or Boroux recommended? At a cost of $166 (@ 20% off) for this "suprior" system. In my houshold, 3 gallons per day is only 1,095 gallons a year. Way off the mark from the advertiaed 12,000 gallons.
And, I will note, I moved away from another filtration system recommended by a nutritionist to the Boroux system becuase it was reported as 12,000 gal. (using 2 filters I concluded, i.e. 6,000 gal./filter) filtration capacity and the Boroux instructions explaining how to clean the filter with a Scotch Brite pad.
Is anyone able to provide clarity to this comment?
Sara Weston
Tuesday 26th of August 2025
will the white fluoride bottom filter work wth these filters too?
Lester Taylor
Friday 18th of July 2025
Will the filters work in the Berkey system?
Rob Benson
Saturday 19th of July 2025
Yes!