Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have been a defender of the Black Berkey system for years. Not any more. A friend alerted me to the controversy going on here at amazon.com, regarding the efficacy, or lack thereof, of the Black Berkey elements, and, the "questionable" nature of some of the alleged "laboratory testing" presented to trusting buyers by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd., the manufacturer of the Black Berkey elements. Initially, I found that the now-infamous "laboratory report" alleged to have been conducted at Louisiana State University was outright fraudulent. As other people have indicated, one can write the scientist named on the report, Professor Ralph J. Portier, Ph.D., and he will cheerfully confirm the report is not genuine. I did just that (and you can, too). I was disturbed sufficiently by this expose, and I consequently ordered the best, affordable home water analysis kit available here at amazon.com, one manufactured by the respected Industrial Test Systems (ITS). Unfortunately, due to many family matters demanding my time, including chronically-ill parents, it wasn't until this week that I was able to perform the testing using best practices possible in a home setting. I am now very sorry - and deeply embarrassed - to say that the Black Berkey output tests positive for Coliform bacteria. ' I performed the tests in the most hygienic and scientifically-sound manner possible in a home setting, and state confidently that no cross-contamination caused this positive test. The only explanation is the failure of the Black Berkey elements to perform their claimed "self-sterilization." I would suggest that anyone interested in getting into the Berkey water "purification" system - DON'T. I would suggest that anyone who currently uses one - STOP, and get a unit that is known to work and doesn't allow microbes into your family's water. I have meekly returned to the Pur system just tonight, which may turn out to be a stop-gap measure, or simply a return to our previous long-term water system. If you doubt my credibility, please, I implore you, and praise you for doing so - go buy your own water testing kit here at amazon.com, or, if you have the resources to do so, have testing done by a real specialty laboratory, and find out for yourself. As for New Millennium Concepts, Ltd., and its distributors & groupies (of which I was one until tonight), I dare you to challenge me on this matter. If you feel what I say is "libelous" to your product, I invite you to contact me, and I will happily provide you my full name, address, and the address of the court of proper venue in which to file your tort claim against me. I will, of course, dearly welcome the opportunity to engage in discovery on your business, its practices, and its "trade secrets." I had confidence in you, total confidence. That makes you "con" artists - experts in the "art" of gaining peoples' confidence.