Purifying Polluted Water In Oxygen: Strategies For Success

Polluted water in Oxygen Not Included can be a challenging issue to deal with, but it's important to manage it early on to prevent negative consequences. It is produced by various sources, such as duplicants not reaching a toilet in time or as a byproduct of certain amenities. This water can pollute clean water supplies and emit polluted oxygen, affecting the air quality and the health of your duplicants. However, there are several strategies to manage and utilize polluted water effectively. Some players suggest building two cisterns, one for fresh water and one for polluted water, to prevent contamination. Others recommend using a Bottle Emptier to store polluted water in a CO2-filled area, inhibiting microbial growth. Polluted water can also be used as a coolant or converted into resources like steam, clay, or oxygen through various methods.

Use a bottle emptier to move polluted water to a CO2-filled hole

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be challenging to manage, especially early on. One effective strategy to deal with it is to use a Bottle Emptier to move the polluted water to a CO2-filled hole. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement this strategy:

Step 1: Construct a Bottle Emptier

Build a Bottle Emptier near the source of polluted water, such as a Wash Basin or a pool of polluted water. The Bottle Emptier will be used to collect and transport the polluted water. Make sure to rotate the Bottle Emptier during construction to control the direction in which the liquid will fall, either to the left or right side.

Step 2: Collect Polluted Water

Duplicants will automatically empty bottles of polluted water into the Bottle Emptier. By enabling the Auto Bottling option, Duplicants can bottle water from a Pitcher Pump and bring it to the Bottle Emptier. It's important to note that if a Duplicant empties a bottle of germ-filled polluted water, both the Bottle Emptier and the Duplicant may become contaminated with germs.

Step 3: Find or Create a CO2-Filled Hole

Locate or dig a small hole in your base, preferably at the bottom, where CO2 accumulates. This hole will serve as the storage area for the polluted water. The CO2 will inhibit the growth of microbes and prevent the spread of polluted oxygen.

Step 4: Transport Polluted Water to the Hole

Use the Bottle Emptier to transport the collected polluted water to the CO2-filled hole. The Bottle Emptier can hold and discharge up to 200 kg of liquid at a time. Ensure that the polluted water is completely emptied into the hole, reducing the risk of exposure to oxygen.

Step 5: Manage the Stored Polluted Water

Once the polluted water is stored in the CO2-filled hole, you can decide what to do with it later. Polluted water has various uses, such as a coolant, irrigation for certain plants, and even as a source of food or oxygen. You can also purify the stored polluted water using a pump and water purification methods once you have a stable supply of clean water.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage polluted water in Oxygen Not Included. Remember that dealing with polluted water can be tricky, and it's essential to prevent it from contaminating your oxygen supply and causing issues for your Duplicants.

Store polluted water in liquid reservoirs

Storing polluted water in liquid reservoirs is a great way to manage this resource in Oxygen Not Included. Here are some tips and strategies to help you effectively use liquid reservoirs for polluted water storage:

Benefits of Using Liquid Reservoirs for Polluted Water Storage

Liquid Reservoirs offer several advantages over simply dumping polluted water into a hole or pit:

• Insulation and Temperature Control: Liquid Reservoirs provide excellent insulation for their contents. They can store very hot or very cold liquids without significantly affecting the surrounding environment. This is especially useful for storing polluted water, which has a wider temperature range than pure water.
• Germ Killing: Liquid Reservoirs are the only effective way to kill germs in liquids when placed inside a chlorine gas atmosphere. This can be crucial for preventing diseases like slimelung.
• Space Efficiency: By placing reservoirs inside a tank underwater, you can store liquids more compactly. This efficient use of space can be beneficial for bases with limited room.
• No Pumping Required: When you need to use the polluted water, you won't need to pump it out of the reservoir, saving energy and effort.

Strategies for Using Liquid Reservoirs for Polluted Water Storage

• Build Multiple Reservoirs: Consider building multiple sequential Liquid Reservoirs to average out the temperature of the liquid. This makes it easier to maintain a consistent temperature, especially if you're using the polluted water for cooling.
• Place Reservoirs Strategically: Keep your polluted water reservoirs below your fresh water reservoirs. In the event of a breach, it's easier to deal with fresh water in your polluted water reservoir than the other way around.
• Connect to Pipes: Liquid Reservoirs can connect to Liquid Intake Pipes and Liquid Output Pipes. This makes it easy to fill and empty the reservoirs without manual intervention.
• Use in Combination with Other Strategies: Liquid Reservoirs are just one part of your polluted water management strategy. Combine them with other techniques, such as using deodorizers to prevent the spread of polluted oxygen and capping polluted water with clean water to prevent off-gassing.

Use polluted water to irrigate plants

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be challenging to manage. However, it is a valuable resource with many practical applications, including irrigating certain plants.

Some plants in the game require polluted water for irrigation, such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, Bog Bucket, and Arbor Tree. Meal Lice and Mealwood also need polluted water, while plants like Bristle Berries and Wheat require clean water.

To irrigate plants with polluted water, you can pipe it into a Water Sieve to purify it into regular water. However, this process does not remove any germs present in the water. It is important to note that germy polluted water can still be used to irrigate plants that require polluted water without any negative consequences.

Managing Polluted Water

Polluted water can be effectively managed and stored for later use. Here are some strategies:

• Bottle Emptier and CO2 Storage: Use a Bottle Emptier to collect polluted water from Wash Basins and store it in a hole where CO2 accumulates. The CO2 will inhibit the growth of microbes, allowing safe storage.
• Separate Cisterns: Build two separate cisterns for fresh and polluted water, with the polluted cistern kept below the fresh one to prevent contamination in case of a breach.
• Capping with Clean Water: Dump clean water on top of polluted water to prevent it from releasing polluted oxygen.
• Deodorizers: Place deodorizers near pools of polluted water to prevent the spread of polluted oxygen and to convert it into clean oxygen for your base.

Purify polluted water with a water sieve

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be challenging to manage, especially early on. One effective way to deal with it is by using a Water Sieve to purify it into regular water.

The Water Sieve is a building that can be used to filter polluted water and turn it back into clean water. It requires a filtration medium, such as sand or regolith, and it can process 5 kg/s of polluted water, producing 5 kg/s of clean water and 200 g/s of polluted dirt as a byproduct. It's important to note that the Water Sieve does not remove any germs or bacteria from the water, so additional steps may be needed to ensure the water is safe for consumption.

To use the Water Sieve effectively, you'll need to set up a system to collect and pipe the polluted water into the Sieve. This can be done using liquid pumps and pipes. Make sure the Sieve is supplied with the filtration medium and that the polluted water is piped into the input port. The clean water will be output through a liquid pipe or vent. You can also use two Water Sieves to speed up the process and purify a full pipe of water more quickly.

It's crucial to keep the Water Sieve well-maintained and to prevent it from running out of the filtration medium. If the Sieve runs out of polluted dirt, it will stop receiving liquid, which can disrupt your water purification system. Additionally, be cautious when dealing with polluted water that contains germs or bacteria. Keep it separate from your clean water supply, and consider using other methods, such as deodorizers and clean water, to control the spread of pollution and prevent contamination.

Overall, the Water Sieve is a valuable tool for purifying polluted water in Oxygen Not Included. By setting up an efficient system to collect and filter the water, you can ensure a steady supply of clean water for your colony, making it easier to manage the challenges of living in a space colony.

Use polluted water as a coolant

Polluted water is a valuable resource in the Oxygen Not Included game and can be used as a coolant before you get access to super coolant. It has a high specific heat capacity and a wider temperature range than water, brine, or saltwater, making it a great early-game coolant. It has the same heat capacity as water but with a better range. It doesn't freeze until -10 degrees Celsius and has a boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius.

To use polluted water as a coolant, you can set up a cooling loop by pumping the polluted water into a metal refinery and then dumping it back into the pool. This will work for refining gold, copper, iron, or cobalt. You can also use a liquid reservoir, as liquids in a reservoir automatically equalize temperature. Make sure to start with cool water and do batches to prevent overheating.

Another method is to use the reservoir building to store polluted water for later. Polluted water in liquid reservoirs does not emit polluted oxygen, so it won't off-gas when you need to use it for cooling. This can be useful for cooling loops.

It's important to note that using polluted water as a coolant is not a permanent solution. Over time, the polluted water will turn to gas, so it's recommended to use it in small batches. Additionally, the polluted water may contain germs, which can contaminate your clean water supply if not properly managed. To prevent this, you can use a pipe germ sensor on the output pipes to automate the dumping of cleaned water.

Overall, using polluted water as a coolant can be an effective strategy in the early game of Oxygen Not Included, but it requires careful management and should be used in conjunction with other strategies to maximize its effectiveness and longevity.

Frequently asked questions