Brian Barton
Polluted water, formerly known as contaminated water, is water that contains waste and sometimes germs. It is a common issue in the video game Oxygen Not Included, where it is produced by duplicants and must be dealt with to avoid the spread of Slimelung disease. There are several ways to address polluted water, including isolating or draining it, using it as a coolant, or purifying it through filtration or with the help of gulping fish.
Characteristics and Values of Dealing with Polluted Waters
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preventing polluted runoff | Stopping nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and automotive fluids from entering local creeks, rivers, and bays |
| Properly disposing of hazardous household items | Not pouring oils, anti-freeze, paint, solvents, cleaners, preservatives, or prescription drugs down household or storm drains; checking with local waste management services for proper disposal methods |
| Reducing fertilizer and chemical herbicide/pesticide use | Limiting nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and toxic runoff; using fertilizer with low or no phosphorus to minimize water quality impact |
| Servicing septic systems | Inspecting annually to prevent leaks into groundwater and local waterways |
| Landscaping with native plants | Reducing stormwater runoff and need for watering/fertilizing |
| Planting trees | Preventing erosion, absorbing fertilizers and chemicals, providing shade to reduce energy costs |
| Supporting responsible land use and conservation policies | Voting for policies that prioritize the environment |
| Donating to organizations focused on clean water practices | Helping implement clean water practices, assisting farmers and homeowners in reducing polluted runoff |
| Using water-efficient toilets | Conserving water, saving money |
| Treating sewage with septic tanks | Separating solids from liquids, degrading solids, and allowing treated liquid to flow into drainage systems |
| Measuring water quality | Using electrical optical sensors, algae toximeters, conductivity, salinity, and TDS meters to assess water pollution levels |
| Reducing nonpoint source pollution | Utilizing toxic drop-off sites, maintaining vehicles to prevent leaks, and avoiding pouring materials down storm drains |
| Implementing stormwater management practices | Planting rain gardens, using rain barrels, choosing porous pavement for driveways to absorb stormwater and reduce runoff |
| Limiting livestock access to water sources | Fencing off streams, providing alternative drinking water sources |
| Adopting rotational grazing systems | Reducing pasture erosion, allowing vegetation regrowth, facilitating composting |
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What You'll Learn
Use it to irrigate certain plants
Polluted water can be used to irrigate certain plants, but it may require reconditioning first. Reconditioning may involve filtering the water to remove suspended solids such as sand, soil, leaves, organic matter, algae, and weeds, which could otherwise clog irrigation systems. The water's pH may also need adjusting before use.
It is important to test the quality of the water to ensure it is acceptable for plant growth and to minimise the risk of discharging pollutants. Electrical conductivity (EC) measures the levels of natural salinity and salinity caused by fertiliser residues in water and soils. Untreated water should have an EC no higher than 0-1.5 mS/cm to avoid plant injury, although values of less than 1 are recommended. Excess soluble salts impair root function, which can lead to reduced water uptake and nutrient deficiencies.
Some plants require polluted water for growth. For example, Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, Bog Bucket, and Arbor Tree all require polluted water for domestic growth.
The game Oxygen Not Included also allows players to use polluted water for irrigation. In the game, polluted water can be purified into regular water using a Water Sieve, although this does not remove germs.
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Turn it into steam to power your base
Polluted water can be a valuable resource in the game Oxygen Not Included, despite its toxic side effects and its ability to cause stress and sickness for Duplicants. One way to utilise this resource is to turn it into steam and use it to power your base.
To do this, you can use steam turbines to generate power. However, this method is inefficient as polluted water requires a higher temperature of 121.35°C to turn into steam, compared to 101.35°C for clean water. This inefficiency will result in a higher power consumption. Additionally, polluted water produces blocks of dirt when it evaporates, which can cause issues for your system and will require constant cleaning by Duplicants.
To improve the efficiency of this method, you can use an ice maker to freeze the polluted water. While this is the least efficient storage method, it can be useful if you plan to use frozen polluted water. Alternatively, you can store the polluted water in its liquid state if you don't have a specific use for it in its frozen form.
Another way to optimise the process is to use a combination of water, salt water, and polluted water to fill a steam room and push out the air. This eliminates the need for pumps to create a vacuum. However, it is important to monitor the temperature and pressure to prevent the formation of polluted oxygen, which can block turbines.
Overall, while turning polluted water into steam to power your base is possible, it requires careful management and may not be the most productive system.
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Purify it with a water sieve
Water pollution is a critical global issue, with chemicals, waste, plastic, and other pollutants degrading water quality and making it unsafe for human use. While wastewater treatment facilities help reduce pollutants, additional measures are often needed to address the problem. One innovative solution is the use of water sieves to purify polluted water.
Water sieves are an effective way to transform polluted water into clean water. By using a filtration medium, such as sand, water sieves can remove physical impurities from the water. The process involves supplying the water sieve with a filtration medium and feeding polluted water into its input port. As the water passes through the sieve, impurities are captured, and clean water is produced as the output. This purified water can then be fed back into homes for use in bathrooms, showers, and other applications.
It is important to note that water sieves have limitations. While they are excellent at removing physical impurities, they are not designed to kill germs or remove microorganisms. To address this issue, some systems incorporate chlorine treatment, where the water is passed through a room filled with chlorine to eliminate germs. This additional step ensures that the purified water is safe for consumption and other purposes.
When implementing water sieves, it is crucial to have a proper liquid overflow mechanism in place. This mechanism can be positioned before or after the water sieve and helps manage the overflow of polluted water or germ-infested water. Additionally, maintaining separate sieves for the main water supply and wastewater is essential to prevent the spread of germs. By following these guidelines, water sieves can be effectively utilized to purify polluted water and contribute to a cleaner and safer water supply.
Overall, water sieves offer a practical solution for purifying polluted water. With proper design and implementation, including attention to germ control and overflow management, water sieves can play a significant role in combating water pollution and ensuring access to clean water for communities worldwide.
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Use gulp fish to convert it into clean water
Water pollution is a widespread problem that jeopardizes human health. Unsafe water kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined. While there are various methods to address water pollution, one innovative approach is to use gulp fish to convert polluted water into clean water.
Gulp fish are unique in their ability to purify water. They can be used to convert polluted water into clean water, making it a valuable resource for irrigation and other purposes. This process occurs when the gulp fish consumes the polluted water, which then goes through a natural filtration process inside the fish's body, resulting in the release of clean water. This method is especially useful for small to medium-sized bodies of water that have been contaminated by chemicals, waste, plastic, or other pollutants.
To effectively utilize gulp fish for water purification, it is important to maintain a suitable environment for the fish. This includes keeping the water temperature within an optimal range of 0-30°C. At extremely low temperatures, the clean water produced may freeze, while temperatures above 30°C can be fatal for the gulp fish. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure that the gulp fish population remains stable. This can be achieved by continuously replacing the fish from another farm or finding alternative repopulation solutions.
One advantage of using gulp fish for water purification is that they do not require feeding to maintain their population. This makes the system low-maintenance and cost-effective. Additionally, gulp fish can support a large filtration throughput in a small space, making them ideal for areas with limited resources. The setup typically requires refined metal, ethanol, temperature sensors, and pumps to maintain water circulation.
While gulp fish are an innovative solution for water purification, it is important to note that they may not be suitable for all situations. In cases where the polluted water contains germs or pathogens, additional steps must be taken to ensure that the cleaned water does not become contaminated. Overall, the use of gulp fish to convert polluted water into clean water offers a promising approach to addressing water pollution and improving access to safe and clean water.
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Store it safely by freezing it
Storing polluted water safely by freezing it is a potential option, but it is not without its drawbacks and limitations. Firstly, it's important to understand that freezing water does not sterilize it; while it may decrease the number of bacteria present and prevent their multiplication, many harmful bacteria and microorganisms can survive and even thrive in frozen conditions. Some larger organisms, such as parasites and pests, are more susceptible to freezing temperatures.
The process of freezing and thawing water can be used to purify it by isolating impurities and reducing heavy water content. This technique, known as the Labza method, relies on the fact that during freezing, dissolved substances concentrate in the center of the liquid. By removing the outer layer of ice and allowing the inner liquid to thaw, you are left with purer water. However, this method may not be practical for large-scale polluted water storage and treatment.
Additionally, freezing water for storage purposes can be energy-intensive and may not be feasible for long-term or large-volume storage. It is also important to consider the potential impact of freezing on the structure of the water molecules and the possibility of expanded water volume, which could affect storage container choices.
While freezing polluted water may not be a comprehensive solution, it can be a useful step in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as distillation, reverse osmosis, or boiling, especially in field conditions where other resources may be limited. However, it should be noted that boiling water may be a more accessible and effective method for obtaining drinking water, as it kills off most microorganisms, although it does not address dissolved chemicals.
Overall, freezing polluted water can be a temporary storage method, but it should be carefully managed and combined with other treatment processes to ensure the water's safety.
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Frequently asked questions
Polluted water, formerly known as contaminated water, is water that contains waste. It may be infected with germs, which will multiply in the water.
Polluted water can be purified by pumping it into a water sieve or by using gulp fish. However, this does not remove germs, so additional steps, such as adding chlorine, are needed to make it safe to drink.
Polluted water is a better coolant than pure water due to its wider temperature range. It is also required for irrigating certain plants. Polluted water can also be boiled into steam and used to power steam turbines.
If you don't have a use for polluted water, you can isolate it by pumping it into a naturally occurring cavern or a carved-out reservoir. It can also be stored safely by freezing it.
