Dehumidifiers that use refrigeration will have cold metal tubes to turn water vapor from a gas to a liquid. According to the EPA, stagnant condensate water can harbor biological contaminants, including mold, mildew and algae, especially if the collection bucket isn’t cleaned regularly. These contaminants have the potential for causing diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and humidifier fever. Evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerators should also be cleaned frequently. Moreover, the condensate can contain lead and other metal residues from the component parts of the dehumidifier. Unlike distilled water, dehumidifier water is never sterilized through boiling.
The Black Berkey® Elements are capable of removing the various potential contaminants that are typically found in dehumidifier water. We recommend that you always use the cleanest water source possible and we do not recommend using dehumidifier water in your Berkey® system on a regular basis. However, IF no other water source is available during an emergency, the water from a dehumidifier could be used, on a short term basis only.
Resources
Martin, A. (2010, November/December). Don’t Drink the Water (From Your Dehumidifier): Essential Answer. Stanford Magazine. https://stanfordmag.org/contents/don-t-drink-the-water-from-your-dehumidifier-essential-answer
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d). Biological Pollutants’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved October 31, 2021 from https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/biological-pollutants-impact-indoor-air-quality
