Kiera Jefferson
Polluted water, formerly known as contaminated water, is water that contains waste and sometimes germs that can multiply and cause disease. While it may seem useless, polluted water has many practical applications. It can be used for irrigation, as a coolant, to generate power, and even as a fertilizer. There are also methods to purify polluted water, such as using a water sieve or gulp fish, though these methods do not remove germs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can be converted into | Clean water, steam, fuel, fertiliser, clay, clean oxygen |
| Can be used for | Farming, coolant, irrigation, power |
| Can be purified by | Water Sieve, Gulp Fish |
| Can be stored by | Pumping into a cavern or reservoir, bottling, freezing |
| Can be deodorised by | Deodorizers |
What You'll Learn
Use it to irrigate certain plants
Polluted water can be used to irrigate certain plants, but it may require reconditioning before use. Disease organisms, soluble salts, and traces of organic chemicals may be present in the water, which could be harmful to the plants. Therefore, it is important to test the water quality to ensure it is acceptable for plant growth and to minimize the risk of discharging pollutants into the surface or groundwater.
Suspended solids, such as sand, soil, leaves, organic matter, algae, and weeds, should be removed from the water through filtration to prevent clogging of the irrigation system. In addition, the water pH may need to be adjusted before use, as this can affect the effectiveness of pesticides, floral preservatives, and growth regulators. EC (electrical conductivity) measures the levels of natural salinity and salinity caused by fertilizer residues in water and soils. Excess soluble salts can impair root function, leading to reduced water uptake and nutrient deficiencies, so it is important to ensure that the EC of the water is within an acceptable range for the specific plants being irrigated.
Some plants that can be irrigated with polluted water include the Pincha Pepper plant, Arbor Tree, and Thimble Reed. These plants can tolerate the presence of germs in the water, and the germs do not appear to have any negative effects on their growth. However, it is important to note that not all plants can tolerate polluted water, and using it for irrigation should be done with caution to avoid potential harm to the plants.
If you have access to an infinite water source, such as a bathroom, you can use the excess water for irrigation without worrying about power consumption. This can help automate your farm and reduce costs. Additionally, polluted water can be purified and turned into clean water through various methods, such as using a Water Sieve or Gulp Fishes, before being used for irrigation.
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Use it as a coolant
Polluted water can be used as a coolant, especially in the early stages of a game. It has a wider temperature range than pure water and can be used to cool down metal refineries. However, it is important to note that polluted water can turn to gas within a few uses, so it may not be a long-term solution. Cycling polluted water through a full reservoir can extend its usefulness.
To use polluted water as a coolant, you can set up a system where you pump the water into the object you want to cool and then cycle it back out again. This can be done with a large pool of polluted water, and the water can be pumped into a refinery and then back out into the pool. This method can be used for gold, copper, iron, and cobalt refining.
Another way to use polluted water as a coolant is to take advantage of its higher heat capacity. This means that it can absorb more heat than other liquids before its temperature rises. This makes it a more efficient coolant than some other options, such as petroleum, which has a lower heat capacity.
Polluted water can also be used as a coolant in a liquid reservoir. Liquids in a reservoir automatically equalize in temperature, so you can use polluted water to cool down a reservoir of another liquid. If you need more cooling power than one reservoir can provide, you can hook up multiple reservoirs in series and loop the fluids between them.
It is important to note that polluted water is not the most efficient coolant in all situations. For example, petroleum has a much higher vaporization point than polluted water, making it a better option for cooling things that will reach high temperatures, like metal refineries. Additionally, ethanol has the advantage of being able to act as a heat deletion tool without the need for a steam turbine.
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Boil it into steam
Boiling polluted water into steam is an effective way to purify it and make it potable. The boiling process kills disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It is also an effective treatment for cloudy or murky water.
To properly boil polluted water, it should be placed in a container over a heat source, such as a campfire or propane stove, and brought to a rolling boil. The duration of boiling depends on your elevation. If you are below 6,500 feet, boil the water for 1 minute. If you are above 6,500 feet, boil it for 3 minutes. After boiling, let the water cool naturally, then store it in clean containers with covers.
It is important to note that boiling water will not remove other contaminants such as heavy metals, salts, and most chemicals. To address these contaminants, additional steps like filtration or chemical treatment are necessary.
The steam produced from boiling polluted water can also be used for power generation. It can be condensed back into water through distillation, a process that requires accurate temperature control and may need multiple passes. The resulting water will be purified, but the residue on the equipment will contain a concentrated mix of non-water components.
Overall, boiling polluted water into steam is a viable option for purification, but it may not be the most efficient method, especially considering the energy requirements for distillation.
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Purify it with a water sieve
Purifying polluted water with a water sieve is a great way to make use of a nuisance resource. Polluted water is a common issue, and while it may seem dirty, it is more useful than one might think.
Firstly, it is important to set up a polluted water tank that feeds into the water sieve. This ensures that if production exceeds the sieve's capacity, the excess water has somewhere to go. When exploring, pockets of polluted oxygen can be pumped into this tank. It is also a good idea to leave a pipe in the new area, so the polluted water can be easily pumped into the main storage tank.
To purify the polluted water, it must be pumped via a liquid pump into the water sieve. The water sieve uses a filtration medium to purify the water, and it needs to be supplied with a filtration medium and receive polluted water in a liquid pipe on its input port to function. For every 5 kg/s of polluted water and 1 kg/s of sand or regolith, the water sieve will output 5 kg/s of water and 200 g/s of polluted dirt. The water sieve does not change the temperature of the water, nor does it kill germs. Therefore, if the water is to be used for drinking or cooking, an additional step, such as chlorination, is required to make it safe.
The purified water can then be deposited from a liquid vent. This water has many uses, such as irrigation or drinking, freeing up your clean water supply for other uses. It is important to note that most naturally occurring and produced polluted water does not contain germs and should be kept separate from infected water.
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Feed it to animals
It is not advisable to feed polluted water to animals. Dirty water can contain harmful pathogens, parasites, and bacteria that can lead to illnesses and diseases in animals. Some of the common illnesses caused by contaminated water include mastitis, liver fluke infection, giardiasis, and coccidiosis. These diseases can cause inflammation, slow growth, anemia, diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, intestinal damage, and even death in severe cases.
To prevent the spread of diseases and ensure the health of your animals, it is crucial to provide them with clean, fresh, and safe water sources. Regular cleaning and disinfection of water troughs, tanks, and pipes are essential to minimize the risk of contamination. Additionally, it is recommended to regularly test the water for the presence of parasites to enable early detection and take prompt measures to mitigate the risk.
While it may seem like a simple solution to feed polluted water to animals, it can have detrimental effects on their health and well-being. It is important to prioritize the health of your animals and provide them with access to clean water to safeguard them from potential illnesses and diseases associated with contaminated water sources.
If you are dealing with polluted water and unsure what to do, there are several other options to consider. You can isolate the polluted water by pumping it into a naturally occurring cavern or a carved-out reservoir. This way, you can remove it from your immediate surroundings while still holding onto it for potential future use, such as plant irrigation. Another option is to purify the polluted water by pumping it into a Water Sieve or using Gulp Fishes to convert it into clean water. However, this process may not remove all germs, so additional steps may be necessary to make it safe for drinking or other specific purposes.
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Frequently asked questions
You can store it safely by freezing it. Use an ice maker to freeze your reservoir or simply dump the infected supply into a frozen biome.
Some methods are more effective than others. You can turn it into steam and use it in steam turbines to power your base or use it as fuel in steam engines.
Yes, polluted water is required for irrigating certain plants. Plants such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, Bog Bucket, and Arbor Tree require polluted water for growth.
Polluted water can be purified by pumping it via a liquid pump into a water sieve or by putting gulp fish in the reservoir. This does not remove any germs, so you will need to add something like chlorine to make it safe to drink.
Despite being dirty, polluted water is a very helpful tool when used as a coolant. It reaches much colder temperatures than standard water and it frees up your pure water for better uses like irrigation or drinking.
