Empty Housing with NO Filters Included vs New Wave Enviro Barrier Grand Water Pitcher: which is safer?
Big Berkey Empty Housing with NO Filters Included is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Big Berkey
Empty Housing with NO Filters Included
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleBacterial growth and biofilm if filters not replaced
ReportedIncomplete contaminant removal due to unvalidated filter claims
PossibleLeaching from rubber seals and spigot if degraded
NewWays
New Wave Enviro Barrier Grand Water Pitcher
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossiblePlastic housing leaching (if applicable)
PossibleFilter media and binder composition undisclosed
LikelyBacterial growth in filter if maintenance neglected
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More pitcher water filters & cartridges: see the full ranking