The Berkey water filter system is designed to improve the overall quality of water by removing harmful contaminants. One aspect that it has been known to influence is the pH level of water. The Black Berkey Purification Elements have been shown to increase the pH level of water between 0.5-1.0, which is a slight but notable change. This increase in pH is due to the fact that most contaminants are acidic in nature, and their removal leads to a corresponding increase in alkalinity. Alkaline environments are known to be hostile to pathogenic bacteria and viruses, which is why a higher pH level can be considered healthful. The exact pH level of the water will vary based on several factors, including the pH level of the water before it was filtered.