Strategies To Combat Water Pollution In City Skylines

Water pollution is a common issue in the city-building game Cities: Skylines. While it does not have any negative in-game effects, players may find the idea of a polluted city unappealing. To combat water pollution, players can use water pumping stations and water treatment plants to clean sewage and reduce pollution. Additionally, ensuring that water and sewage pipes are separate and that water pumps are upstream can help prevent pollution. Players should also be cautious of placing too many pumps near the water, as this can reverse the water current and cause pollution to move upstream.

Move water pumps away from polluted water

To address water pollution in Cities: Skylines, it is crucial to strategically position your water pumps and sewage plants. Here are some instructive guidelines focused on moving water pumps away from polluted water:

Firstly, it is imperative to understand the flow of water in your city. Identify the direction in which clean water flows and ensure that your water pumps are upstream, while your sewage outputs are downstream. This natural flow will help prevent cross-contamination and reduce the risk of water pollution.

Secondly, create a separation between your water pumps and sewage plants. Place them at a considerable distance from each other to avoid any possibility of polluted water being pumped towards your water supply. This measure ensures that your citizens have access to clean drinking water and reduces the chances of waterborne diseases.

In addition, when constructing water towers, ensure that they are built away from polluted areas. Ground pollution can contaminate water towers, impacting the water supply for your city. If a water tower has been previously exposed to polluted ground, it may be necessary to demolish and rebuild it to ensure a clean water source.

Moreover, consider the placement of your pumping stations. Upstream placement of pumping stations relative to sewage drains is crucial to prevent water pollution. Additionally, when dealing with stagnant sewage, placing a pumping station in the middle and connecting it to a water pipe can help draw the sewage into the ground, eventually cleaning up the entire area.

Lastly, if you encounter persistent water pollution issues, you can explore relocating your sewage plants and allowing nature to remove the pollution over time. This process can be slow, so it is recommended only in dire circumstances. When relocating, refer to the previous guidelines to strategically position your sewage plants away from water sources to prevent further contamination.

Place water pumping stations in the middle of sewage

To help with water pollution in Cities: Skylines, you can use water pumping stations to clean up polluted water from your sewage. It is important to place your pumping stations upstream of any sewage drains so that the water is not contaminated by pollution.

One strategy is to place the water pumping station in the middle of the sewage and run a water pipe from it a short way, connecting to nothing. This will pump all the stagnant sewage from your water into the ground, eventually cleaning up the whole area. It is recommended to place a couple of them on either side of a sewage disposal at the beginning of the game to prevent sewage from spreading.

Additionally, you should be mindful of the direction of water travel and the flow of water when placing your pumping stations. You want to avoid placing them in areas where the water flow isn't strong, as this can cause pollution to start moving upstream towards your pumps. Pumps can pull pollution towards them, especially if there are enough of them and the water isn't moving. Therefore, it is crucial to separate sewage pipes from water pipes to prevent cross-contamination.

Upgrading your water pumping stations with advanced filtering systems can also help reduce pollutants in the intake water. Furthermore, you can invest in water treatment plants, which process sewage before dumping the water, eliminating most of the pollution.

Use water treatment plants

Water treatment plants are an important feature in City Skylines, helping to reduce water pollution and improve the aesthetics of your city. Here are some tips and strategies for utilising water treatment plants effectively:

Water treatment plants are unlocked after achieving the "Big City" milestone in the game. They serve as sewage dumping systems, purifying 85% of the pollution in sewage. This helps to reduce the environmental impact of your growing city and can be a worthwhile investment depending on your strategy.

One of the main benefits of water treatment plants is their ability to reduce pollution. They emit only 20% of the water pollution that standard drain pipes produce, according to some players' observations. This can help to improve the overall water quality in your city and make it a more pleasant place to live.

However, some players have noted that water treatment plants may not completely eliminate water pollution. In some cases, players have reported that the plants themselves can still contribute to water pollution, albeit at a reduced rate. This may be due to the placement or functionality of the plants, as relocating or rebuilding them can sometimes resolve the issue.

Water treatment plants also have a larger draining capacity compared to standard drain pipes. They can process 33% more waste, which can be beneficial for managing sewage in a densely populated city. This can help prevent sewage backup and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases for your citizens.

When using water treatment plants, it is important to consider their placement. In City Skylines, they can only be built on shorelines, unlike in SimCity 4 where they could be constructed anywhere. Ensure that your water treatment plants are located near the sewage pipes to maximise their effectiveness.

Additionally, water treatment plants can be more costly, require more energy, and take up more space compared to standard drain pipes. As such, it is essential to balance their benefits against these drawbacks when deciding whether to implement them in your city.

Remove sewer drains

Sewer drains and water treatment are an important aspect of keeping your citizens in Cities: Skylines healthy and happy. Sewer drains are a necessity to deal with sewage and wastewater. While drain pipes can be placed on a shoreline, they simply dump raw sewage into the water, which can cause massive water pollution.

To remove sewer drains, you need to ensure that the pipes are empty. Check the info pane and make sure they are 0% full. Once you have confirmed this, you can then proceed to bulldoze and remove the sewer drains. To do this, open the menu to place the pipes and then press "X" followed by pressing down on the D-pad.

It is important to be cautious when removing sewer drains as you do not want to accidentally remove or disturb other underground constructions such as water pipes, heating pipes, tunnels, or metros. These pipes, especially water pipes, need to be continuous to function properly and provide water to your citizens.

Additionally, when dealing with water and sewage, it is crucial to keep your water supply buildings, such as water towers and pumping stations, away from polluted areas. Place your pumping stations upstream of any remaining sewer drains to prevent water contamination. Water towers should be away from ground pollution, and both types of buildings must be connected to the city by water pipes.

By removing unnecessary sewer drains and strategically placing your water supply buildings, you can help reduce water pollution in your city and ensure the health and well-being of your citizens in Cities: Skylines.

Check water flow to keep water pumps upstream

To prevent water pollution in Cities: Skylines, it is crucial to ensure that water pumps remain upstream. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Firstly, understanding the water flow mechanics in the game is essential. Water naturally flows downstream, and if the flow is not strong enough, pollution can start moving upstream, potentially reaching your pumps. Therefore, it is important to observe the direction of water travel and place your water pumps accordingly.

To maintain upstream water pumps, regularly check the water flow direction and strength. Place your water pumps away from polluted areas and ensure they are upstream. This will help prevent the pumps from pulling pollution towards them. Additionally, consider upgrading to better water sewage treatment plants, as this can reduce the amount of pollution that is pumped out into the water.

Another strategy is to utilize water pumping stations. These stations can be placed in the middle of sewage areas to pump stagnant sewage into the ground, cleaning up the entire area over time. It is important to note that water pumping stations must always be connected to a water source and have a water drain pipe to function effectively.

Furthermore, consider the placement of your sewage pipes. Keep them away from your water pipes to avoid cross-contamination. If cross-contamination does occur, simply move the sewage pipes to a different location, and the pollution will gradually move downstream.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively maintain upstream water pumps and help prevent water pollution in your city. Regular monitoring and adjustments will ensure that your citizens have access to clean water and that your city remains healthy and prosperous.

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