
In the space-colony simulation game Oxygen Not Included, polluted water is a common issue that players must address. It can be created when a Duplicant doesn't make it to the toilet in time or as a byproduct of certain amenities and machines. While it may be annoying, polluted water can be managed in several ways and even has some useful applications. So, where can players dump their polluted water?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to get rid of polluted water | Sieve it into less germy clean water, dump it into a tank, let it gas off to produce polluted oxygen, use it for the fertilizer syntheziser, boil it to make clean water steam, dump it into space, or use it for plant irrigation |
| How to store polluted water | Dump it into a naturally occurring cavern or a carved-out reservoir, use an ice maker to freeze your reservoir, or dump the infected supply into a frozen biome |
| How to transport polluted water | Use insulated pipes to move the water around |
| How to separate polluted water from clean water | Build a bottle emptier and select it to only allow polluted water to be dumped into it |
| How to purify polluted water | Use a water sieve to filter polluted water into water; 5 kg/s polluted water + 1 kg/s sand or regolith = 5 kg/s water + 200 g/s polluted dirt |
| How to use polluted water | Polluted water can be used as a coolant, to produce polluted oxygen which can be filtered into clean oxygen, and to irrigate certain plants such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree |
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What You'll Learn

Using a bottle emptier
Polluted water is a nuisance in Oxygen Not Included, but it can be managed and even turned into a benefit for your colony. If you have no use for polluted water and don't want to deal with it, you can simply isolate it. You can dump it into a natural cavern or a carved-out reservoir and then use a pump and pipes to move it wherever you want. If you're worried about the polluted water contaminating your systems, you can freeze it using an ice maker or by dumping it into a frozen biome.
One way to deal with polluted water is to use a bottle emptier. Build the bottle emptier somewhere that it will pour into a different pit than your clean water. Then, go into the bottle emptier's menu and select "Polluted Water" as the only type of water to be brought to and emptied into it. This is important because otherwise, your dupes will also empty clean water bottles into your polluted water reservoir. The bottle emptier can be rotated during construction so that the liquid can fall to either its left or right side. It can also be completely submerged and still function without issue. It can empty a bottle of 200 kg of liquid at most, and dupes will not deliver another bottle until the current one is fully discharged.
After the polluted water is out of the bottles, you can place a pump at the bottom of the pit to send the water to a sieve. From there, it can be decontaminated and turned into clean water. This can be done by sieving the water into a third tank (which needs to be hot) or by boiling the water to make clean water steam, which can then be cooled down again. Clean water can then be used for irrigation or drinking.
If you're looking to make use of the polluted water rather than just getting rid of it, there are some plants that require polluted water to grow, including Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree. Polluted water can also be converted into fertilizer using a Fertilizer Synthesizer by combining polluted water, dirt, and phosphorite.
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Dumping into a cavern or reservoir
Polluted water is a common nuisance in the Oxygen Not Included game, and it can cause several problems for players if not managed properly. It is a breeding ground for bacteria, can make your Duplicants sick, and pollutes clean water. It is produced as a by-product of various activities, such as when Duplicants don't make it to the toilet in time, or from Algae Distillers, Lavatories, and Showers.
If you don't have an immediate use for polluted water and want to get rid of it, one option is to dump it into a cavern or reservoir. This method involves isolating the polluted water by pumping it out and using pipes to move it to a natural cavern or a carved-out reservoir. This is a good option if you don't have the resources to purify the water or if you want to save it for later use, such as for plant irrigation.
To ensure the polluted water doesn't contaminate your systems, you can store it by freezing it. This can be done by using an Ice Maker to freeze a reservoir or by dumping the polluted water into a Frozen Biome and letting the cold environment freeze it.
Another option for dealing with polluted water is to put it to use. Polluted water has several benefits and can be a valuable resource for your community. Here are some ways to use polluted water:
- Coolant: Polluted water is an excellent coolant, reaching colder temperatures than standard water. This frees up your pure water for other uses like irrigation or drinking.
- Fertilizer: Polluted water can be converted into fertilizer using a Fertilizer Synthesizer by combining it with dirt and phosphorite. This process also produces a small amount of natural gas.
- Irrigation: Certain plants, like Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree, require polluted water to grow. These plants have various uses, such as high-quality food recipes and fuel for your machines.
- Purification: Polluted water can be purified into clean water using a Water Sieve or by adding Gulp Fishes to the reservoir. However, this process doesn't remove germs, so additional steps like chlorination may be needed to make it safe for drinking or bathing.
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Sending it into space
While it is possible to send polluted water into space in Oxygen Not Included, it is the least recommended option. This is because polluted water is a helpful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, and sending it into space removes a potential resource that could benefit your Duplicants.
If you still want to send polluted water into space, you can do so by routing the water through pipes to the edges of the asteroid and letting the vacuum spew it into the void. To do this, dig a path and pipe to the top until you see the sky, place a liquid vent, and let the water disappear into space.
However, keep in mind that liquids won't evaporate due to low pressure, so you will have to pump them to the exposed tiles or they will stay forever. Additionally, space exposure only affects the specific tile it is targeting, so you will have to do some pumping to get rid of all the polluted water.
Before deciding to dump your polluted water, consider the following alternative uses for it:
- It can be used as a coolant for machines as it has a higher specific heat capacity than clean water and a wider temperature range.
- It can be piped into a water sieve and purified into clean water.
- It can be used to grow certain plants, such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree, which have various uses.
- It can be converted into fertilizer using a Fertilizer Synthesizer, along with dirt and phosphorite.
- It can be boiled to make clean water steam, which can then be cooled down again to get clean water.
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Using it for fertiliser
Polluted water is a common issue in the Oxygen Not Included game, and while it can be a nuisance, it can also be a helpful resource for your colony. One of the best ways to utilise polluted water is by converting it into fertiliser.
Fertiliser is an excellent resource for plants that require a lot of water, such as Bristle Berries, Pepperplants, and Sleet Wheat. Using fertiliser on these plants can double their growth rate and save you about 30% to 40% of water. This is especially useful if you have water issues in your colony. To create fertiliser, you will need a fertiliser maker or a fertiliser synthesizer, which will combine polluted water with compost, dirt, or sand. Phosphorite is also required to make fertiliser, and the process produces a small amount of natural gas as a by-product.
If you have an algae distiller, lavatory, or shower that is leaking polluted water, you can divert it to your fertiliser maker. This is a great way to make use of water that would otherwise be wasted. Just be sure to separate ordinary polluted water from contaminated polluted water, as the former is easier to recycle. You can also use the water from your toilets for fertiliser, but be sure to have a renewable source of clean water first.
While it is possible to simply dump polluted water into a cavern or reservoir, converting it into fertiliser is a much more efficient use of this resource. Not only will this help your plants grow faster, but it will also reduce the amount of water needed for irrigation. Additionally, if you have an excess of polluted water, you can always store it for later use by freezing it.
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Converting it into steam
Polluted water is a common issue in the game Oxygen Not Included, and it can be a nuisance to deal with. It is a breeding ground for bacteria and can make your duplicants sick, so it is important to manage it effectively. While there are several ways to get rid of polluted water, one method is to convert it into steam.
Converting polluted water into steam is a process that requires a few steps, but it can be an effective way to get rid of polluted water and produce clean water. Here is a guide on how to do it:
Firstly, collect the polluted water. You can do this by setting up a storage room with tanks to store the polluted water. Make sure to use insulated pipes to move the water around and prevent leaks. You can also use a bottle emptier to collect the polluted water and dump it into the storage room. It is important to separate ordinary polluted water from contaminated polluted water, as they require different treatments.
Next, you will need to boil the polluted water to convert it into steam. This can be done using a tepidizer or a distiller. The tepidizer will heat the water to a temperature of 85°C or higher, which is sufficient to kill any germs present. The distiller will consume the polluted water and output clean water. You can also use a steam geyser to heat the water, as the high temperatures will kill any germs.
Once the polluted water has been converted into steam, you will need to condense it back into clean water. This can be done by using an aquatuner or a similar cooling mechanism in the same tank as the tepidizer to cool the steam and convert it back into water. Alternatively, you can direct the steam into a separate tank or chamber and use a cooling mechanism there.
It is important to note that boiling polluted water will also produce a small amount of dirt, so you will need to remove this from the clean water. Additionally, be careful not to damage your pump due to the high temperatures.
Converting polluted water into steam is a useful way to get rid of polluted water and produce clean water for your base. It may require some resources and time, but it is an effective method to manage this issue in the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Polluted water can be dumped into a naturally occurring cavern or a carved-out reservoir. You can also use a pump and pipes to move the water to wherever you want.
Polluted water can be used for the fertilizer syntheziser, or boiled to make clean water steam. It can also be purified into regular water using a water sieve, although this does not remove germs.
Polluted water is an obnoxious substance in the game as it is a breeding ground for bacteria, it will make your Duplicants sick, and it pollutes clean water. Over time, it will also emit polluted oxygen.
Despite its negative effects, polluted water is a very helpful tool when used as a coolant. It reaches much colder temperatures than standard water. It can also be used for irrigating certain plants, such as Pincha Pepper, Thimble Reed, and Arbor Tree.
Duplicants create polluted water when they do not reach a toilet in time or when they stress-vomit. To prevent this, you can build a sink near your latrine/restroom so they can wash their hands and avoid contaminating other areas.











































