Treating Polluted Water In Oxygen: Effective Strategies

In the space-colony simulation game Oxygen Not Included, polluted water is a common issue that players must address to ensure the survival of their colony. Polluted water can be created by a variety of sources, including duplicants not reaching a toilet in time, stress-vomiting, or as a byproduct of certain amenities and machines. While it may seem like a nuisance, polluted water is a valuable resource that can be used for oxygen production, irrigation, and cooling. However, it is essential to manage it properly to prevent contamination and negative effects on the colony's health and well-being. In this discussion, we will explore strategies for dealing with polluted water, including filtration methods, storage techniques, and its potential benefits and drawbacks in the context of the game.

Store polluted water without it infecting your oxygen supply by using heavy CO2 to inhibit microbe growth

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be challenging to manage, especially early on. Here are some tips to store polluted water without it infecting your oxygen supply, focusing on the use of heavy CO2 to inhibit microbe growth:

Firstly, it's important to understand that polluted water, by itself, does not infect oxygen. However, it produces polluted oxygen, which then infects the surrounding air and can lead to infected air and water. Therefore, the key is to prevent the spread of polluted oxygen from the polluted water. One effective method is to use heavy CO2, which can be denser than oxygen under certain conditions, and inhibit the growth of microbes.

To utilize this method, create a small basin or pool near your base to store the polluted water. Ensure that the basin has a double airlock with a ladder, hatch, and outhouses to prevent accidental exposure. By using a Bottle Emptier, you can transfer the polluted water from Wash Basins into this basin, creating a hole where CO2 accumulates and forms a layer on top of the polluted water. This CO2 layer will inhibit microbe growth and prevent the release of polluted oxygen.

Additionally, you can also use deodorizers to clean the air and prevent the spread of polluted oxygen. Place deodorizers around your base and near pools of polluted water to maintain clean oxygen for your colony. Another simple method to prevent the spread of polluted oxygen is to dump clean water on top of the polluted water. This creates a cap, preventing the release of polluted oxygen and allowing you to drain the polluted water without infecting your oxygen supply.

Remember, the key to successfully managing polluted water is to prevent the spread of polluted oxygen. By using a combination of heavy CO2, deodorizers, and clean water caps, you can effectively inhibit microbe growth and store polluted water without infecting your oxygen supply.

Polluted water can be purified using a water sieve, but this doesn't remove germs

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be a challenge to manage. While it is possible to purify polluted water using a water sieve, this process does not remove germs, which can be a significant problem.

Water sieves are an effective way to filter polluted water and turn it into regular water. The ratio for this process is 5 kg/s of polluted water, plus 1 kg/s of sand or regolith, which will result in 5 kg/s of water and 200 g/s of polluted dirt as a byproduct. This polluted dirt should be handled carefully, as it can be harmful to duplicants. However, despite the effectiveness of water sieves in removing pollutants, they are not capable of removing germs, which is a crucial distinction to make.

The presence of germs in clean water can have negative consequences, as it can lead to infections and food poisoning. To address this issue, additional steps must be taken to sanitise the water supply. One method is to use liquid chlorine, but it must be cooled down significantly before being added to the water. Another approach is to boil the water into steam, which is a more challenging process than it may seem.

To prevent the spread of polluted water and the issues it causes, it is important to store it properly. As long as the polluted water does not come into contact with oxygen, it will not contaminate the oxygen supply. Storing it under heavy CO2 can be a solution, as the CO2 inhibits the growth of microbes. Additionally, keeping polluted water in liquid reservoirs prevents it from emitting polluted oxygen, making it safer to store.

While dealing with polluted water can be challenging, it is also a valuable resource in Oxygen Not Included. It serves as an excellent coolant, with a wider temperature range than pure water. Polluted water is also necessary for irrigating certain plants, such as thimble reed, bog bucket, and arbor tree. By understanding the properties and potential uses of polluted water, players can make informed decisions about how to manage and utilise it effectively.

Gulp fish can convert polluted water into clean water

Gulp fish can be used to convert polluted water into clean water in Oxygen Not Included. This is a useful technique to know, as polluted water is the most common naturally occurring liquid on most asteroids, especially in the Swamp Biome.

Polluted water can be created by a variety of sources, including duplicants not reaching a toilet in time, or by stress-vomiting. It can also be a byproduct of certain amenities, such as lavatories, showers, and algae distillers. This means that it is important to know how to deal with it, especially early in the game.

One way to prevent the negative effects of polluted water is to ensure that it does not come into contact with oxygen, as this will cause it to emit polluted oxygen. This can be prevented by storing the polluted water with a layer of heavy CO2 on top, which will inhibit the growth of microbes.

However, another way to deal with polluted water is to use gulp fish to convert it into clean water. This can be done by setting up a cleaning tank with a cycle sensor, which releases a little less water than the gulp fish can clean, to prevent overflow when the fish die and turn into eggs. This method can be tricky, as the water can turn into ice, but it is possible to heat the water to prevent this.

Polluted water is required for growing certain plants, such as thimble reed and bog buckets

Polluted water can be used to grow certain plants, such as thimble reed and bog buckets. Thimble reed is a plant that looks similar to a cattail and grows naturally in swamp biomes. It can be harvested to yield reed fibre and thimble reed seeds. Reed fibre can be used to make atmo suits, clothes, and insulation. Thimble reed requires a temperature range of 22°C to 37°C and an atmosphere of oxygen, polluted oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, or polluted water. A wild thimble reed takes eight cycles to grow, while a domestic thimble reed can be planted in farm tiles or hydroponic farms and takes two cycles to grow.

Bog buckets are a food plant that can be found in the swamp biome and can be grown by planting a bog bucket seed. They produce bog jelly, which can be eaten raw or cooked into swampy delights. Bog buckets are the only food plant that consumes polluted water and can be grown in a planter box instead of a hydroponic farm, making them a convenient early-game option.

To manage the polluted water, it is important to prevent it from coming into contact with oxygen, as it can spread to your oxygen supply. Storing it in a small basin with heavy CO2 on top can inhibit the growth of microbes. Additionally, capping the polluted water with a layer of clean water can prevent it from releasing polluted oxygen.

Polluted water can be used to produce fertiliser in a fertiliser synthesiser

Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, but it can be used in many ways and is a valuable resource. One effective use of polluted water is to produce fertiliser in a fertiliser synthesiser. This is a great way to use up excess polluted water and boost your farms.

Fertiliser is excellent for plants that require a lot of water, and it can double their growth rate for a period. Making fertiliser with polluted water is a good way to save water, as it uses less water than the base growth for plants, and a fertilised plant does not consume more resources. It is particularly useful for Bristle Berries, Pepperplants, and Sleet Wheat. It is also worth considering for Beans if you are domesticating the trees for ethanol production.

To make fertiliser, you will need a renewable source of clean water, as well as sinks, latrines, and showers to produce polluted water. You can then transport the polluted water to the fertiliser synthesiser. This will produce fertiliser, some natural gas, and heat. The natural gas can be captured beneath the fertiliser synthesiser and used for cooking and power production.

It is important to note that polluted water can be dangerous if it comes into contact with oxygen, as it will produce polluted oxygen, which can infect your water supply and make your dupes sick. Therefore, it is crucial to store polluted water carefully and take steps to prevent it from spreading. One way to do this is to cover the polluted water with a layer of clean water, as this will prevent the release of polluted oxygen. Additionally, you can use deodorizers to clean up polluted oxygen and prevent it from overwhelming your living area.

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