How Pollution Leaves: Understanding Natural Area Cleansing

Pollution is a pressing issue that can have detrimental effects on the environment and human well-being. It is often generated by buildings that utilise power or engage in processing activities, resulting in a visually darker area and a negative impact on the happiness of individuals who traverse through it. The extent of pollution's influence is proportional to the loss of happiness experienced by those exposed. This pollution can be mitigated through the use of Cleaners, which employ water to reduce pollution levels in the surrounding area. However, highly polluted areas may require an upgraded Cleaner II building to effectively address the issue.

Pollution can be cleaned up with water

Pollution on tiles can be removed by placing Cleaners to remove the happiness effect. All the Cleaner needs to work is water, which can easily be gathered at a well. With a basic Cleaner building, pollution will reduce one full level. This does not apply to Slightly Polluted tiles, but with an upgraded Cleaner, you can increase the amount of pollution that is cleaned. The Cleaner building will unlock as you research Pollution Cleaning on the technology tree, and can be built with the following materials.

Highly polluted tiles also risk transforming into a puddle of Toxic Sludge and creating an area of Wasteland around themselves. If a wasteland issue arises from the Space Whale, both its breath attack and its Astrobaleenium deposit, it may pay off to build a Cleaner under the whale attack as a matter of course to avoid forgetting to do so later. Secondly, because the area under a Baleenium deposit cannot normally be cleaned, it tends to accumulate Very Highly Polluted tile status. If it is ever removed by use of a Reclamation Spire, the use of a Cleaner II building can rapidly bring the area under control and is sure to avoid problems.

Cleaners can be used to remove pollution

The best way to reduce pollution is with the Cleaner building. Workers assigned to the Cleaner will use water to clean up any pollution in the area around the building. With a basic Cleaner building, pollution will reduce one full level. This does not apply to Slightly Polluted tiles, but with an upgraded Cleaner, you can increase the amount of pollution that is cleaned. The Cleaner building will unlock as you research Pollution Cleaning on the technology tree, and can be built with the following materials. All the Cleaner needs to work is water, which can easily be gathered at a well.

A wasteland issue can also arise from the Space Whale, both its breath attack and its Astrobaleenium deposit. The attack can generate heavily polluted areas where Cleaners are not normally present, creating a risk where there was none before. This is especially problematic because of all the distractions from repairing destroyed buildings, so it may pay off to build a Cleaner under the whale attack as a matter of course to avoid forgetting to do so later. Secondly, because the area under a Baleenium deposit cannot normally be cleaned, it tends to accumulate Very Highly Polluted tile status. If it is ever removed by use of a Reclamation Spire, the use of a Cleaner II building can rapidly bring the area under control and is sure to avoid problems.

The amount of pollution present will scale with the amount of happiness lost for the Peep. For example, if a Peep walks through an area with light pollution, they will only lose a little bit of happiness. Additionally, pollution will affect the production of buildings that harvest organic resources, such as crops or trees.

Pollution can be caused by buildings that use power

Once generated, the pollution will rest on the ground, making it visually darker and giving a negative modifier to the happiness of any person who walks through it. Pollution on tiles can be removed by placing cleaners to remove the happiness effect. The best way to reduce pollution is with the Cleaner building. Workers assigned to the Cleaner will use water to clean up any pollution in the area around the building. With a basic Cleaner building, pollution will reduce one full level.

Pollution will also affect the production of buildings that harvest organic resources, such as crops or trees. A wasteland issue can also arise from the Space Whale, both its breath attack and its Astrobaleenium deposit. The attack can generate heavily polluted areas where cleaners are not normally present, creating a risk where there was none before. This is especially problematic because of all the distractions from repairing destroyed buildings, so it may pay off to build a Cleaner under the whale attack as a matter of course to avoid forgetting to do so later.

Pollution can affect the production of buildings that harvest organic resources

Cleaners can be used to remove pollution and increase happiness. Basic Cleaners require water to function, which can be easily gathered at a well. Upgraded Cleaners can increase the amount of pollution that is cleaned. Cleaners can also be used to address the issue of wasteland caused by the Space Whale's breath attack and its Astrobaleenium deposit. The attack can generate heavily polluted areas where Cleaners are not normally present, so it may be beneficial to build a Cleaner under the whale attack to avoid future problems.

Additionally, highly polluted tiles risk transforming into a puddle of toxic sludge and creating an area of wasteland. Until a Cleaner II using chemicals is available, there will not be a way to remove this level of pollution. Therefore, it is important to address pollution promptly to prevent further damage to the environment and the production of buildings that harvest organic resources.

Pollution can cause wasteland issues

Highly polluted tiles also risk transforming into a puddle of toxic sludge and creating an area of wasteland around themselves. The amount of pollution present will scale with the amount of happiness lost for the Peep. For example, if a Peep walks through an area with light pollution, they will only lose a little bit of happiness. Additionally, pollution will affect the production of buildings that harvest organic resources, such as crops or trees.

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