Oxygen Not Included: Polluted Water Movement Explained

In the game Oxygen Not Included, polluted water is a common issue that players must address. It can be created through various activities, such as a Duplicant not making it to a toilet in time or as a byproduct of certain amenities like showers and lavatories. Polluted water can have negative effects on Duplicants, adding to their stress and causing sickness if they come into contact with it. While it may seem like a nuisance, polluted water is more useful than one might think. It serves as an excellent coolant due to its wider temperature range compared to pure water, and it can be purified into regular water using a Water Sieve. Additionally, it is necessary for irrigating certain plants, such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree. Players can also convert polluted water into fertilizer using a Fertilizer Synthesizer. Managing polluted water is crucial to prevent it from contaminating clean water sources and causing further issues in the game.

Polluted water can be purified into regular water using a water sieve or gulp fishes

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included. It is the most common naturally occurring liquid on most asteroids, especially in the Swamp Biome. It can be created by a variety of sources, such as Duplicants not making it to a toilet in time, or by stress-vomiting. It can also be a by-product of certain amenities and machines, such as lavatories, showers, and algae distillers.

While polluted water can be useful for cooling and irrigation, it is important to manage it to prevent negative effects on your Duplicants and your water supply. One way to deal with polluted water is to use a Water Sieve to filter it into regular water. This can be done by piping polluted water into the Water Sieve, which will purify it. However, this method does not remove any germs that may be present in the water. The formula for this process is 5 kg/s Polluted Water + 1 kg/s Sand or Regolith = 5 kg/s Water + 200 g/s Polluted Dirt.

Another way to purify polluted water is by using Gulp Fish. Placing these in your reservoir is a simple way to start the purification process. However, as with the Water Sieve method, this will not remove germs, so further steps are needed to make the water safe for drinking.

If you are unable to purify the polluted water, there are other ways to manage it. One method is to simply isolate it by pumping it into a separate reservoir or cavern. This will prevent it from contaminating your clean water supply. Another option is to bottle the polluted water and store it, although this requires careful monitoring to ensure the bottles are not accidentally used in Wash Basins or Microbe Mushers.

Additionally, players have found ways to utilise polluted water. For example, it can be used as a coolant, as it has a wider temperature range than pure water. It is also useful for growing certain plants, such as Pincha Peppers, Thimble Reeds, and Bog Buckets. Polluted water can also be used to generate oxygen and produce clay for ceramic production.

Polluted water can be used to grow plants like Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree

Polluted water is the most common naturally occurring liquid on most asteroids in the game Oxygen Not Included, especially in the Swamp Biome. It is created as a by-product of Algae Distillers, Algae Terrariums, Natural Gas Generators, and Petroleum Generators. It is also produced by Duplicants through stress-vomiting or when they do not reach a toilet in time.

Despite its dirty appearance, polluted water is quite useful. It is a better coolant than pure water due to its wider temperature range. Polluted water can be purified into regular water using a Water Sieve, although this does not remove any germs. It can also be filtered into pure oxygen. Additionally, polluted water is required for irrigating certain plants, such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree. These plants can be grown using polluted water without any negative consequences.

The amount of polluted water required for the domestic growth of these plants varies. Pincha Pepper requires 35 kg/cycle, Thimble Reed requires 160 kg/cycle, and Arbor Tree requires 70 kg/cycle. Polluted water can also be used in a Fertilizer Synthesizer to produce fertilizer. It is important to note that while polluted water can be dropped into clean water tanks without contaminating the clean water, if the polluted water contains germs, the clean water will become contaminated.

Players can take advantage of the properties of polluted water to benefit their gameplay. For example, polluted water in liquid reservoirs does not emit polluted oxygen, allowing players to store it for later use. Additionally, by strategically placing a layer of clean water on top of polluted water, players can prevent the generation of polluted oxygen. This knowledge can help players manage and utilize polluted water effectively in their game.

Polluted water can be converted into fertiliser using a fertiliser synthesiser

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be challenging to manage. While it has some uses, such as a coolant and for irrigating certain plants, it is essential to deal with it properly to prevent contamination and negative effects on your duplicants.

One effective way to manage polluted water is by using a Fertilizer Synthesizer. This machine can convert polluted water, dirt, and phosphorite into fertilizer for domestic plants. The process also produces natural gas as a by-product, which can be utilised for power generation or cooking, making it a valuable resource.

The Fertilizer Synthesizer offers notable resource conservation, requiring minimal inputs while producing a substantial amount of fertilizer. For example, it can produce 72 kg of fertilizer per cycle, which is equivalent to 14.4 Micronutrient Fertilizer uses. This can be particularly useful for plants with high fertiliser demands, such as Pincha Pepper and Thimble Reed, which require 35 kg/cycle and 160 kg/cycle of polluted water, respectively.

It is important to note that the germs in the polluted water are not destroyed during the fertiliser synthesis process and are instead transferred to the produced fertiliser. Therefore, it is recommended to manage polluted water sources carefully to prevent the spread of harmful contaminants.

Additionally, the heat output of the Fertilizer Synthesizer should be considered. The machine's inputs have a higher total heat capacity than its outputs, leading to potential overheating. To mitigate this, it is suggested to use hot water as an input, as it provides more than half of the total heat capacity, and to remove the output materials quickly or implement cooling mechanisms.

Polluted water can be used as a coolant due to its wider temperature range than pure water

Polluted water is a common naturally occurring liquid on most asteroids in the game Oxygen Not Included, especially in the Swamp Biome. It is formed when a duplicant does not reach a toilet in time or through stress-vomiting. It can also be created as a by-product of the Algae Distiller, or through certain amenities such as lavatories and showers.

Polluted water is a better coolant than pure water due to its 40-degree wider temperature range. It has a higher heat capacity, which means more energy or heat is required for it to change temperature. This makes it ideal for cooling systems that require quick heat transfer. It is also useful for everyday purposes, such as cooling bases.

In comparison to other coolants, polluted water has a wider temperature range than brine and salt water, making it a great coolant that can be obtained early in the game. It is also better than petroleum for cooling purposes as petroleum has a lower heat capacity and a lower freezing point. However, petroleum is better suited for systems that require quick heat transfer, such as refineries, as it can be used in a closed loop to power steam turbines.

Polluted water can be pumped into a water sieve and purified with a filtration medium, turning it into pure water that can be deposited from a liquid vent. However, this process does not remove any germs that may be present in the polluted water. It is important to note that polluted water emits polluted oxygen, even in a vacuum, and can create negative effects if a duplicant walks or is submerged in it.

Polluted water can be bottled and stored, or pumped into the same place as clean water

Polluted water can be problematic in Oxygen Not Included, as it can create negative effects on duplicants and infect your entire water basin. However, there are strategies to manage and utilise polluted water effectively.

Firstly, it is important to note that polluted water can be bottled and stored. Duplicants will automatically empty polluted water bottles into a Bottle Emptier, which is set to accept them. This can be useful if you want to store polluted water for later use, as polluted water in liquid reservoirs does not emit polluted oxygen. You can also use a Bottle Emptier to collect polluted water from wash basins and pour it into a hole where CO2 accumulates. By inhibiting the growth of microbes, the CO2 layer allows you to safely store polluted water.

Additionally, polluted water can be pumped into the same place as clean water. The polluted water will sink to the bottom, and by placing your pump near the surface, it will always draw clean water. It is important to note that if the polluted water contains germs, the clean water will also become contaminated. Therefore, it is recommended to keep polluted water separate from clean water whenever possible.

Another option is to purify the polluted water. This can be done by pumping it via a Liquid Pump into a Water Sieve, where it can be filtered and turned into pure water. However, filtering polluted water does not remove any germs present, so additional steps may be necessary to ensure the water is safe.

Polluted water can also be utilised for various purposes. It is a better coolant than pure water due to its wider temperature range. It is also required for irrigating certain plants and can be used in a Fertilizer Synthesizer to produce fertiliser. Polluted oxygen emission is not strictly negative, as it can be filtered into pure oxygen, and the emission of polluted oxygen from polluted water is calculated on the first 1000 kg of polluted water.

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