Pollution Visibility In Cities: Skylines Tips And Tricks

how to see pollution in cities skylines

The city-building game Cities: Skylines offers an engaging way to visualize real-world urban development, including the management of pollution. Players can monitor various types of pollution, such as water, soil, and noise pollution, and implement strategies to reduce them. The game provides an Info Views button, which includes a pollution infographic, allowing players to visualize pollution levels and make informed decisions. Additionally, the game's Green Cities expansion introduces environmentally friendly solutions, such as recycling centers and renewable energy sources, empowering players to create sustainable and pollution-free cities.

Characteristics Values
Game Type City-building game
Game Versions Digital, Tabletop, VR
Game Objective To increase the city's growth ability to reach the next level
Pollution Types Soil, water, noise
Water Pollution Cause Ground pollution near/on water pumps
Water Pollution Solution Move water pumps away from polluted ground and use parks to remove pollution
Noise Pollution Solution Reduce truck traffic by 50%
Green Cities Version Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux

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Using the pollution infographic

To check for water pollution in Cities: Skylines, you can use the "pollution" infographic under the "Info Views" button. This will show you the "Average Ground Pollution" and "Average Drinking Water Pollution". If you notice water pollution, it could be caused by ground pollution near your water pumps or by your water towers being in areas that cause pollution. Moving your water pumps away from polluted areas and using parks can help to reduce water pollution.

Additionally, the game offers an option to build a recycling centre, which is a cleaner alternative to landfills and can generate tax revenue. Commercial districts can be specialised with organic and local produce shops, providing charging ports for electric cars, which can help reduce traffic congestion and lower noise pollution. The "Green Cities" expansion also introduces wind turbines as an alternative to coal power plants, further reducing pollution.

To prevent pollution from factories, you can change the industry type to farming, which has minimal pollution. Alternatively, you can look for yellow fertile lands to place your industry, as this will boost the production rate.

Cities: Skylines also simulates noise pollution, which is determined by traffic congestion. The game offers a holistic approach to environmental issues, allowing players to build community schools, art schools, technology institutes, gyms, swimming pools, and saunas, which can improve healthcare in affected areas.

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Water pollution

Identifying Water Pollution:

  • Check the "Info Views" button in the top left corner, then select the "Pollution" button. This will show you the "Average Ground Pollution" and "Average Drinking Water Pollution" levels.
  • Pay attention to citizen complaints about water pollution. If your citizens are complaining, check your pipes and water pumps. Ensure that your water pumps are upstream from your sewage drains and not near any industrial areas.
  • Monitor the water pollution percentage. If it's high, it may be due to a previous industrial area or ground pollution near your water sources.

Reducing Water Pollution:

  • Use structures that process and clean up waste, such as water treatment plants, to actively reduce water pollution. These can help treat sewage and prevent it from polluting water sources.
  • Remove the sources of pollution and let nature take its course. Move your sewage outlets downstream from your water intake sources. Ensure that your industrial areas are not near water sources or pipes.
  • Reposition your water drain pipes to a new area if a specific body of water is getting too polluted. This is a cost-effective solution if you're working with a limited budget.
  • Use water towers to avoid touching natural bodies of water for your city's water needs. While water towers are more expensive to build and maintain than water pumping stations, they can help isolate your water supply from potential pollution sources.
  • Utilize parks to remove ground pollution. If the ground near your water sources is polluted, moving your water pumps away from those areas and replacing them with parks can help remove the pollution over time.

Remember that you can combine these strategies to speed up the natural cleaning process and effectively manage water pollution in your city.

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Ground pollution

There are visual indicators of ground pollution in the game. You may notice discoloured ground in polluted areas. Additionally, the pollution info view can help you identify areas of ground pollution. It is important to separate residential zones from polluted areas, as citizens living on polluted ground will eventually get sick. The higher the pollution levels, the faster the negative health impacts occur.

To minimize the effects of ground pollution, careful planning is essential. Try to keep polluting buildings away from residential areas. You can also invest in cleaner and renewable energy services, such as nuclear power plants, wind turbines, solar power plants, and wastewater treatment plants. These options are often costly but can help reduce pollution.

While it is challenging to completely remove ground pollution, there are a few strategies you can employ. One method is to use mods, such as the Pollution Remover mod, which allows you to disable all types of pollution. Alternatively, you can wait it out; even without mods, ground pollution will eventually disappear if you remove the pollution source and give it enough time. You can also try clearing the affected zones and planting vegetation to speed up the process.

It's important to manage sewage and water pumping stations effectively to prevent ground pollution from contaminating water supplies and causing a city-wide health crisis. Sewage should be placed downstream, and water pumping stations should be positioned upstream, away from pollutants. Investing in sewage upgrades and water treatment plants is crucial for maintaining a clean water supply.

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Noise pollution

In Cities Skylines, noise pollution is an important aspect of the gameplay as it simulates a real-world problem. To check the noise pollution levels in your city, click on the informational panel on the upper left-hand side of the screen. This will bring up a panel with different icons, and the noise pollution icon is represented by a pair of headphones. Clicking on this will show you the noise pollution levels across your city.

To reduce noise pollution, you can implement several strategies:

  • Trees: Planting trees along roads and highways can significantly reduce noise pollution. The more trees you plant, the greater the reduction in noise pollution.
  • Sound Barriers: Constructing sound barriers along roads and highways, especially motorways, can help to reduce traffic noise.
  • Office Areas: Placing office areas in your city can help reduce noise pollution while also meeting the demand for industrial districts.
  • Electric Cars: Encouraging the use of electric cars over large vehicles can result in lower noise pollution levels.
  • Public Transport: Using biofuel buses instead of standard buses can contribute to reducing noise pollution.

While it is impossible to eliminate noise pollution entirely, proper planning can help ensure that your city has a balanced mix of quiet and noisy areas. Noise pollution can negatively impact your citizens' health and happiness, so it is crucial to address it effectively.

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Air pollution

Firstly, ensure that your industrial zones and polluting buildings are placed as far downwind as possible, preferably near the border of the map. This will help prevent air pollution from blowing towards residential areas. If you need to relocate your industrial zones, consider demolishing the existing ones and rebuilding them in a less populated area.

Additionally, certain industries, such as farming and forestry, produce less pollution than others. By switching your industrial areas to these specialties, you can balance the demand for industry zoning while minimizing pollution.

Noise pollution, caused by traffic, large roads, and certain buildings, is another form of air pollution that can be mitigated. Policies that encourage the use of electric cars or restrict large vehicles can help reduce traffic noise. Upgrading roads with sound barriers or planting trees along roadsides can also effectively reduce noise pollution.

Lastly, keep an eye on your pollution levels by utilizing the "Pollution" infographic or the "Info Views" button, which provides information on both ground and drinking water pollution levels. This will help you identify areas of concern and take necessary actions to reduce air pollution in your city.

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Frequently asked questions

Go to the "Info Views" button and select "Pollution". Here, you will see a gauge that shows "Average Ground Pollution" and "Average Drinking Water Pollution". If you are having trouble finding the source of the pollution, check if there is ground pollution near your water pumps.

Move your water pumps away from any polluted ground and use parks to remove the pollution. You can also build a recycling centre to turn waste into new goods, reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills.

Go to the "Info Views" button and select "Pollution". This will display a simulated noise pollution view. You can also reduce noise pollution by reducing truck traffic, for example, by using electric cars.

Use parks to remove pollution from the ground. You can also change the ground to farming, which will boost the production rate and reduce pollution.

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