Moving Polluted Water In Oxygen: A Guide To Effective Strategies

In the game Oxygen Not Included, polluted water is a common occurrence, especially in the Swamp Biome. It can be created when a duplicant doesn't make it to the toilet in time or through amenities such as lavatories, showers, and algae distillers. Polluted water can be moved by constructing a bottle emptier and setting it to polluted water only. Players can then click on enable auto bottling and dupes with the tidy/supply job will bring the bottles to it. Alternatively, players can create a room for polluted water and create crates to store polluted items.

Using a bottle emptier

To move polluted water in Oxygen Not Included, one method you can use is a Bottle Emptier. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use it:

Firstly, construct the Bottle Emptier. Once it is built, click on it to access its settings. Here, you can specify which types of liquids you want to run through it. By default, the only option is water, but as you progress in the game, other liquids will become available. Make sure to set it to polluted water only.

Next, enable the "Auto Bottling" option. This will allow your Duplicants to bottle liquid at a Pitcher Pump and bring it to the Bottle Emptier. Duplicants with the tidy/supply job enabled will bring the bottles to the Emptier with airlocks. You can also set the Emptier to "sweep only", which will direct your Dupes to sweep the polluted water bottles and dump the contents into your reservoir.

The Bottle Emptier can be rotated during construction so that the liquid can fall to either its left or right side. It can handle a maximum of 200 kg of liquid at one time, and Duplicants will not deliver another bottle until the current one is fully discharged.

One thing to note is that if a Duplicant empties a bottle of germ-filled polluted water, both the Emptier and the Duplicant will be covered in germs. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the liquid's contents before emptying bottles.

Creating a room for polluted water

Polluted water is a common occurrence in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be created in several ways, such as when a duplicant doesn't make it to the toilet in time, or through amenities like lavatories and showers. It can also be a by-product of certain machines, like the Algae Distiller and Algae Terrariums. While it may be tempting to want to get rid of polluted water, it is more useful than one might think. It is a great coolant, with a wider temperature range than pure water, and it can be filtered into pure oxygen or purified into regular water using a water sieve. It is also necessary for growing certain plants, like the Pincha Pepper and Thimble Reed.

When dealing with polluted water, one option is to create a dedicated room to store it. This can be done by constructing a bottle emptier and setting it to polluted water only. Once constructed, you can click on the bottle emptier and specify that you want to run polluted water through it. Then, click on "enable auto-bottling," and dupes with the tidy/supply job will bring the bottles to it. This method will allow you to store the polluted water in crates within the room.

Another option for dealing with polluted water is to create a large tank to store it. This tank can be built under a cool slush geyser to ensure a constant supply of cool polluted water. The polluted water can then be continually filtered and purified into regular water. Alternatively, you can use the polluted water as a source of polluted oxygen, which can be deodorized to provide clean oxygen for your base and clay for ceramic production.

If you want to get rid of polluted water, you can simply dump a bottle of clean water on top of it to prevent it from releasing polluted oxygen. After that, you can drain it to the bottom of the map. However, keep in mind that polluted water is a valuable resource, and it is often better to store and purify it rather than dispose of it.

Prioritising polluted water

Polluted water is a common issue in Oxygen Not Included and can be a nuisance to players. It is important to prioritise dealing with it to prevent it from causing bigger problems down the line. Here are some ways to prioritise and manage polluted water:

Identify Sources of Polluted Water

The first step is to identify the sources of polluted water in your base. Polluted water can come from various sources, such as Duplicants not making it to the toilet in time, stress-vomiting, or as a by-product of certain amenities like lavatories, showers, and algae distillers. By identifying the sources, you can better manage and reduce the amount of polluted water in your base.

Containment and Storage

Containing and storing polluted water is crucial to prevent it from contaminating other areas. You can use a bottle emptier to collect and store polluted water in bottles. Make sure to set the bottle emptier to accept polluted water only. Create a designated storage area for the bottles, and ensure your Duplicants do not accidentally use them in wash basins or microbe mushers. Another option is to dig a hole or pit and empty the polluted water there. Storing polluted water in a liquid reservoir is also an option, as it does not emit any polluted oxygen.

Prioritise Usage and Conversion

Polluted water is not just a waste product; it can be put to good use. Prioritise using polluted water for cooling, as it is a better coolant than pure water due to its wider temperature range. You can also use it to irrigate certain plants, such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree, which require polluted water for growth. Additionally, consider converting polluted water into fertiliser using a Fertilizer Synthesizer by combining it with dirt and phosphorite. This fertiliser can then be used to enhance the growth of various plants.

Purification

If you need additional clean water, consider purifying polluted water. While not the most efficient method, it can be done by pumping polluted water into a Water Sieve or using Gulp Fish in the reservoir. However, this process does not remove germs, so additional steps, such as adding chlorine, may be necessary to make it safe for drinking or other purposes.

Prevent Contamination

Take measures to prevent the contamination of your clean water supply by polluted water. Keep your polluted cistern below your fresh cistern to minimise the impact in case of a breach. Ensure that your wash basins are well-maintained and strategically placed to handle most dup bug-carrying issues. Additionally, be cautious when dealing with bottled polluted water to avoid accidental contamination of your clean water sources.

Purifying polluted water

Polluted water is a common occurrence in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be effectively purified and utilised. Here are some detailed methods for purifying polluted water:

Using a Water Sieve

One effective method is to use a Water Sieve, which can be utilised to purify polluted water into regular water. Polluted water can be piped into the Water Sieve and filtered with a filtration medium, resulting in pure water that can be deposited through a Liquid Vent. While this process removes the polluted state of the water, it does not eliminate any germs present. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the polluted water is germ-free before purification to avoid contaminating the clean water supply.

Capping with Clean Water

Another approach is to prevent the release of polluted oxygen from the water. This can be achieved by dumping clean water on top of the polluted water, creating a cap. Once capped, the polluted water can be drained to the bottom of the map without causing any issues. This method is especially useful when dealing with small amounts of polluted water, as it prevents the spread of pollution and allows for easy management.

Deodorizers and Clean Oxygen

Polluted water naturally emits polluted oxygen, which can be a concern for players. By using deodorizers, the polluted oxygen can be cleared, resulting in clean oxygen for your base. Additionally, this process produces clay, which is useful for ceramic production. A ring of deodorizers around your base can prevent polluted oxygen from overwhelming your living area.

Cooling and Irrigation

Polluted water has a unique advantage over pure water when it comes to cooling. Due to its wider temperature range, it serves as an excellent coolant, especially in the early game. It can be used to cool machinery and systems without freezing, making it a valuable resource for temperature management. Additionally, certain plants, such as thimble reed, bog bucket, and arbor tree, require polluted water for irrigation, making it essential for their growth.

Storage and Management

Proper storage and management of polluted water are crucial. Players can create a designated room for storing polluted items, including polluted water bottles. Using a bottle emptier, players can specify which liquids to process, enabling auto-bottling and ensuring that dupes with the tidy/supply job bring the bottles to the designated area. This helps organise and manage polluted water, preventing it from causing issues in main activity areas.

Polluted water's benefits

Polluted water is abundant in the game, especially in the Swamp Biome. It is also found in the Frozen Biomes, where it is in the form of polluted ice, and in caves, where it emits polluted oxygen. Polluted water can be created when a duplicant does not make it to the toilet in time, or through stress-induced vomiting. It can also be a by-product of certain amenities, such as lavatories, showers, and algae distillers.

Despite its negative effects, polluted water has some advantages. Firstly, it is a valuable coolant due to its high specific heat capacity and wide boiling and freezing range. This makes it useful for players early in the game. Additionally, polluted water can be stored in liquid reservoirs without emitting polluted oxygen, which is beneficial for players who want to save it for later use.

Another benefit of polluted water is that it can be used to generate polluted oxygen intentionally. By spreading out the polluted water tiles instead of stacking them, players can increase the emission of polluted oxygen. This can be advantageous for players who need a source of polluted oxygen.

Lastly, polluted water can be managed and stored effectively. Players can use a bottle emptier to collect polluted water and store it in a designated area, such as a room or a hole where CO2 accumulates. This prevents the polluted water from contaminating the oxygen supply and allows players to deal with it later.

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