Storing Polluted Water: On-Site Solutions For Safe Disposal

Polluted water in Oxygen Not Included can be an annoyance, but it can also be a valuable resource. It is the most common naturally occurring liquid on most asteroids, especially in the Swamp Biome. While it may have negative effects on duplicants, there are several ways to store it for later use, such as freezing it or using liquid storage tanks. Polluted water can also be converted into clean water or used for growing plants, cooling, and creating fertiliser.

Store polluted water in basins with an overpressurized atmosphere

Storing polluted water in Oxygen Not Included can be done in several ways, and it is a resource that is useful to keep. One way to store it is in basins with an overpressurized atmosphere. This prevents the emission of polluted oxygen, which can be harmful to your base.

Polluted water is a common liquid on most asteroids and is created by various sources, such as duplicants' stress-vomiting, lavatories, showers, wash basins, and sinks. It is also a by-product of the Algae Distiller and some other amenities. It is important to note that polluted water is not fit for consumption and can cause negative effects on duplicants if they come into contact with it.

To store polluted water in basins with an overpressurized atmosphere, you can follow these steps:

• Create a basin or tank to store the polluted water. Ensure that the basin is sealed and can withstand pressure.
• Pump or pour the polluted water into the basin.
• Increase the pressure inside the basin to above 1.8 kg of pressure. This will stop the emission of polluted oxygen from the water.
• Optionally, you can add a layer of clean water on top of the polluted water before sealing the basin. This will also prevent off-gassing.
• You may also want to consider adding deodorizers above or around the basin to help control the smell and prevent the spread of germs.

By storing polluted water in this manner, you can take advantage of its benefits without risking the negative consequences of polluted oxygen. Polluted water has a wider temperature range than clean water, making it an excellent coolant. It is also required for irrigating certain plants and can be purified into regular water through a water sieve, although this does not remove any germs.

Use a bottle emptier to put polluted water into a hole with CO2

Polluted water is a common issue in the Oxygen Not Included game, and there are several ways to manage it. One effective method is to use a bottle emptier to put the polluted water into a hole with CO2. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

First, it's important to understand the behaviour of gases in the game. Gases have different densities, and they don't mix. CO2 tends to settle at the bottom of your base, and since it has a higher density than oxygen, it won't jump over the oxygen to reach your dupes. This knowledge will help you manage the polluted water effectively.

Now, let's begin with the process of using the bottle emptier:

• Construct a Bottle Emptier: The bottle emptier is a crucial tool in managing polluted water. By default, it is set to only empty water, but as you discover other liquids, they will become available in the Element Filter menu. The bottle emptier can be rotated during construction to direct the liquid to its left or right side.
• Bottling and Unbottling: Polluted water needs to be bottled and then unbottled at a water tap, which is found in the plumbing tab. This process is necessary to move the polluted water to the desired location.
• Setting Up the Bottle Emptier: Place the bottle emptier over a reservoir or a hole in the ground where you want to dump the polluted water. Make sure to check "polluted water" in the settings to ensure it can empty polluted water bottles.
• Managing Germs: If your polluted water is contaminated with germs, be cautious. When a duplicant empties a bottle of germ-filled polluted water, both the bottle emptier and the duplicant can become covered in germs. To prevent this, enable the ""Auto Bottling" option. This will allow duplicants to specifically bottle liquid at a Pitcher Pump and bring it to the bottle emptier.
• Using the Bottle Emptier: Once the bottle emptier is set up, direct your dupes to sweep the polluted water bottles and dump them into the reservoir or hole. To prevent dupes from emptying clean water bottles into your polluted reservoir, set the task to "sweep only".
• Pumping Polluted Water: After dumping the polluted water into the hole, you can use a pump to move it into pipes for various uses, such as coolant or irrigation.
• Deodorizers and Sieves: To manage the polluted oxygen that may be released, consider using deodorizers near the bottle emptier to purify the air. Additionally, you can pump the polluted water into a sieve to separate the clean water from the polluted dirt.

By following these steps, you can effectively use a bottle emptier to put polluted water into a hole with CO2, managing both the liquid and gaseous forms of pollution. Remember that polluted water can be useful for various purposes, so don't stress too much about it, and focus on storing it safely until you need it.

Freeze polluted water using an ice maker or by dumping it into a frozen biome

Storing polluted water in Oxygen Not Included can be challenging, but freezing it is a viable option. Here are some tips for freezing polluted water using an ice maker or by dumping it into a frozen biome:

Using an Ice Maker:

The Ice Maker is a machine in the game that can be used to freeze water and create ice. This can be an excellent way to store polluted water, as it will be contained and preserved in a frozen state. Ice Makers can be found or crafted, and they are especially useful if you have access to renewable Space POIs like Exploded Ice Giants, Frozen Ore Asteroid Fields, or Ice Asteroid Fields. These locations provide a large amount of ice that can be harvested and used in the Ice Maker to freeze your polluted water.

Dumping Polluted Water into a Frozen Biome:

Another option is to utilise the freezing temperatures of a frozen biome. Frozen biomes are excellent for cooling down substances like water and polluted water. By dumping your polluted water into a frozen biome, you can take advantage of the low temperatures to freeze it. This method is a functional short-term solution, as eventually, the ice in the biome will melt due to exposure to heat from various sources and digging. However, it provides a quick and easy way to freeze large amounts of polluted water.

To maximise the cooling effect in a frozen biome, consider building pipes to direct the flow of water. You can have the warmer water enter from one end and the cooler water exit from the other, ensuring a constant supply of chilled water. Additionally, using insulated pipes can help regulate temperature and prevent freezing in areas where you want to maintain a liquid state.

It's important to note that while freezing polluted water can be a useful storage method, it may not be a permanent solution. Ice can melt over time, especially in warmer environments or when exposed to heat sources. Therefore, it is essential to plan accordingly and consider combining this method with other storage techniques, such as using storage tanks or basins with overpressurized atmospheres.

By using these strategies, you can effectively freeze polluted water and utilise the cooling properties of ice makers and frozen biomes in Oxygen Not Included.

Use polluted water as a coolant

Polluted water can be used as a coolant in the game Oxygen Not Included. Due to its high specific heat capacity and a boiling and freezing range larger than water, brine, and saltwater, it is a great coolant that can be obtained in the early game. The larger temperature range is due to the combination of two real-life phenomena: boiling-point elevation and freezing-point depression.

When using polluted water as a coolant, it is important to consider the risk of it boiling and bursting your pipes. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended to start with cool water and do batches so it doesn't overheat. Cycling polluted water through a full reservoir can make it last for quite a few processes. Additionally, using a liquid reservoir can help since liquids in a reservoir automatically equalize in temperature. If you need a larger heat sink, you can hook up multiple reservoirs in series and loop the fluids between them.

Polluted water can be obtained from various sources, such as duplicants not reaching a toilet in time, stress-vomiting, as a by-product of the algae distiller, or through certain amenities such as lavatories and showers. Petroleum Generators also produce polluted water as a by-product at a rate of 750 g/s, 450 kg/cycle, or 2.66 W/g.

While polluted water is a great coolant, it is important to note that it can have negative effects on duplicants if they come into direct contact with it, adding stress. Therefore, it is crucial to handle it carefully and consider storing it in liquid reservoirs to prevent polluted oxygen emissions.

Use polluted water to grow plants

Water is a prerequisite for life—animals, humans, and plants all need water to grow, survive, and thrive. However, not all water is created equal, and using polluted water to grow plants can have both positive and negative effects.

On the one hand, water pollution can cause an explosion of new plant growth by providing necessary nutrients and food. For example, nitrogen and phosphorus, commonly found in fertilizers, encourage plant growth because they are essential for photosynthesis. When these nutrients pollute waterways, they can lead to blooms of growth. Additionally, in the case of oxygen-depleted dead zones caused by algae blooms, planting seaweed farms in these areas can help soak up excess nutrients and restore balance.

On the other hand, water pollution can also harm or kill plants by changing their growing conditions. For example, acid rain, caused by atmospheric sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide from natural and human-made sources, can lower the pH levels of bodies of water, creating more acidic conditions that some plants cannot tolerate. Marine debris, such as plastic, can block sunlight, hindering the process of photosynthesis and stunting plant growth. Contaminated water can also introduce diseases, viruses, fungi, and toxic chemicals that can harm or kill plants, such as in the case of mercury poisoning in aquatic plants.

To mitigate the risks of using polluted water for plant growth, it is essential to test the water quality. City or municipal water is regularly tested and monitored and is generally safe for both edible and ornamental plants. However, if using water from a well, pond, or rain barrel, it is crucial to test for contaminants, as these sources may be exposed to fertilizer runoff, heavy metals, or pathogens that can harm plants and make people sick if consumed. There are pond kits available for at-home water testing, or you can contact your local Department of Public Health for information on testing.

Additionally, some cultivators use plant preservative mixtures (PPM) or antibiotics to prevent microbial growth and treat contamination. PPM is a healthier and more sustainable alternative to antibiotics, acting as a broad-spectrum biocide and preservative to halt the growth of fungi and bacterial spores without disrupting in vitro growth when used correctly.

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