Water

Cheat sheet how to connect water related items in game.

Content review required

This article has been deemed to require a review of it's content.

Water and Sewage are optional features and are only available when Water Management is enabled in game settings.

Background

Drinking water is a crucial resource that is obtained and processed to ensure its safety for consumption. Water is typically sourced from natural reservoirs such as lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers. It is collected using various methods, such as intake systems that prevent debris from entering the supply.

After collection, water goes through a treatment process to remove impurities and make it safe to drink. This process includes filtration, disinfection, and sometimes additional steps like coagulation and flocculation. Filtration removes suspended particles and sediment, while disinfection eliminates harmful microorganisms. The specific treatment methods may vary depending on the source and quality of the water.

Once treated, the drinking water is transported to homes, buildings, and communities through a network of pipes. Water pressure plays a vital role in ensuring a steady flow of water. In many urban areas, water is delivered using pressurized systems, where water is pumped and maintained at a certain pressure to reach higher elevations and distant locations. This enables efficient distribution of water to different areas.

In some cases, gravity-fed water systems are utilized, especially in rural or mountainous regions. Gravity-fed systems rely on the force of gravity to supply water. Water sources located at higher elevations are tapped and channeled through pipes downhill to the communities. The gravitational force ensures a continuous flow of water without the need for pumps or external energy.

Storing drinking water is crucial to meet fluctuating demands and provide a backup during emergencies. Reservoirs, tanks, and water towers are commonly used to store water. These structures not only store a sufficient quantity of water but also provide the necessary pressure for distribution.

Overall, the process of obtaining, processing, and distributing drinking water involves a combination of treatment techniques, infrastructure, and consideration of water pressure to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for communities.

Gameplay

Water management is a setting in the game settings which the player can enable. When enabled the player needs to take care of providing water to the citizens and factories. To achieve this the player needs to build buildings to collect and distribute water and also to take care over the quality of the water when providing it to citizens.

General

Water retrieval

Water can be retrieved from a lake or river with the help of a surface water outflow. If there is no river or lake nearby the player can get water from a water well.

Water for citizens

The water from a surface water outflow or from a water well is drinkable for citizens but the player pays a health penalty depending on the quality of the water. When water is of bad quality the citizens will become sick and must go see a doctor in a hospital. Water treatment allows the player to control the water quality and this water is more suitable for the citizens in the republic.

Water for factories

Factories need water and drinking water for the workers who work at the factory. The food processing factories must be provided with high quality drinking water.

Water quality

The quality of the water is influenced by the environment. Water quality of a surface water outflow depends on the water quality in the river or lake. When a water well is placed near buildings, the water quality is reduced. The water quality from a water well is 95% at maximum, because the water well itself reduces the quality. The player can control the quality of water with the help of water treatment. In water treatment, the water is treated with chemicals to become water of a higher quality, with a maximum of 99%. Citizens need high quality water as drinking water, if they get water with a quality lower than 97% they will become sick and must go see a doctor.

Notes

• Water imported from a customs house has a quality of 99%.
• The minimum drinking water quality for citizens is 97%.
• A water quality of 95% will affect some citizens, 75% a lot more. Water quality that is consistently at 95% will still be enough to affect overall health.

Distribution

Water needs to be distributed throughout the republic for buildings to function. This can be done through small, medium, big water pipes or with a water truck. Big water pipes can transport more water over longer distances. Medium water pipes can transport less water, and small water pipes transport the least. The player can branch off water pipes using water switches. Contrary to the name, water switches cannot switch on or off water, and are only an interconnection between water pipes.

When using a water truck the player must use a water loading/unloading station, water treatment plant or customs house to be able to load water. The water trucks must be stationed at a technical services building and the source of water must be assigned. A water loading/unloading station has multiple water connections for pipes of any size. A water treatment plant can provide any treated water to trucks. A customs house will sell water on demand. Trucks will automatically deliver to buildings or a water substation if they are inside the set range of the technical service.

Water can be distributed to buildings using a water substation. The player connects one water pipe, of any size, to a water substation. How far away a water substation can be placed from a building depends on the terrain height in the environment. If the water substation is at a higher height than the building, the distance increases. If the water substation is at a lower height the distance is decreased. The larger the difference in height between water substation and building the more the distance is increased or decreased. This rule applies to all 'sources' of water (water substation, water well, etc.) and 'consumers' (factories, stores, housing, etc.).

With help of a water pumping station the player can pump water from a lower height to a higher height. When pumping water to a higher height, the throughput of the pump is decreased, e.g. less m3/hour water pumped by the pump. When pumping water to a lower height, the throughput of the pump is increased, e.g. more m3/hour water pumped by the pump. Pumps have limited throughput. A small water pump transfers a maximum of approximately 50 m3/hour and a large pump transfers a maximum of approximately 150 m3/hour. The actual numbers can vary depending on height difference.

Water can be stored in a water tower or in a water underground reservoir.

Water Pressure

Pipes can transport more water depending on the water pressure. 1 bar of water pressure will transport about 19% of a pipe's total capacity. Pipes reach maximum throughput (the number displayed on the tooltip) when the pressure is at least 5.3 bar. Pumps will automatically raise the pressure to 5.3 bar, but their throughput is limited as described above. For example, a small pump cannot fully saturate a large pipe; it will only transport 50 m3/hour.

Exact water pressure is affected by the difference in volume between source and destination, and difference in height, and distance traveled. Water cannot flow uphill unless pressurized by a pump. Each meter difference in height increases the water pressure by approximately 0.06 bar. This means that gravity-fed water can provide significant pressure if the source is placed high enough, especially when using water towers for extra height.

Buildings related to water

Water treatment

Water treatment is a process where polluted water can be treated and made drinkable for the citizens of the republic. Water flows to the treatment plant for processing through water pipes, or is delivered by a water truck. Chemicals such as chlorine are used to destroy microorganisms in the water.

The desired water quality can be configured from the treatment plant. The default and maximum setting is 99%; this means that water leaving the water treatment plant is the best water the citizens in the republic can drink. The lowest possible value is 2%.

When there are no workers at the treatment plant, the plant stops processing water, water trucks return to the technical services building and citizens start complaining when they run out of water.

The production numbers on the water treatment plants can be slightly misleading. If a plant is purifying significantly impure water (such as water from a surface water outflow) the maximum production per day may be lower than what is listed. This is because of the maximum amount of wastewater that the plant can remove. This affects anything that is being purified by more than 10 percentage points. To find the actual maximum output, divide wastewater maximum by the amount of impurity removed (expressed as a decimal).

For example, let's say we have a big water treatment plant that is taking in 300 m3 of water from surface outflows with an average quality of 77%. We'd like to improve this to 97%, which is a total of 20% impurity removed. 30/0.2 = 150, so the treatment plant will only output half of the expected amount at maximum efficiency.

Name	Cost	Workers	Production	Consumption	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Water treatment small	See below	5	120m3 Water 13m3 Wastewater	0.10m3/h Water, 0.25t Chemicals	10 MWh	167 kW	25m3 Water(import) 25m3 Water(export) 2.1t Chemicals	Access	1x road access 2x water pipes(import) 2x water pipes(export)
								L/U	2
Water treatment big	See below	10	300m3 Water 30m3 Wastewater	0.47t Chemicals	13 MWh	232 kW	30m3 Water(import) 30m3 Water(export) 6.0t Chemicals	Access	1x road access 4x water pipes(import) 3x water pipes(export)
								L/U	4

Water well

Name	Cost	Workers	Production	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Small water well	See below	None	70m3 Water	5.1 MWh	84 kW	280m3 Water	Access	1x footpath access 2x water pipes(export)	A well is a deep hole or shaft dug into the ground to access natural resources, in this specific case: Water.
							L/U	None
Big water well	See below	7	215m3 Water	8.9 MWh	148 kW	500m3 Water	Access	1x footpath access 3x water pipes(import) 3x water pipes(export)	See small water well.
							L/U	None

Surface water outflow

Name	Cost	Workers	Production	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Surface water outflow	24 Workdays, 4.1t Concrete, 0.39t Gravel, 0.31t Asphalt, 0.81t Steel	None	150m3 Water	0 MWh	0 kW	3.0m3 Water(export)	Access	1x footpath access 1x Water pipes(export)	Surface water outflow is a structure that takes in water. The surface water outflow needs to be built partially on water and partially on soil.
							L/U	None

Water loading/unloading station

Name	Cost	Workers	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Water loading/unloading station	303 Workdays, 8.2t Concrete, 6.3t Gravel, 8.8t Bricks, 2.9t Boards, 4.7t Steel, 0.76t Mechanical components	None	7.5 MWh	124 kW	None	Access	1x road access 2x water pipes(import) 2x water pipes(export)	Water can be delivered or picked up from the water loading/unloading station with the help of water trucks.
						L/U	3

Water pumping station

Name	Cost	Workers	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Small water pumping station	43 Workdays, 0.66t Concrete, 0.50t Gravel, 0.4t Asphalt, 1.8t Bricks, 0.59t Boards, 0.65t Steel, 0.090t Mechanical components	None	14 MWh	249 kW	None	Access	1x footpath access 1x water pipes(import) 1x water pipes(export)	With help of a water pumping station the player can pump water from a lower height to a higher height. When pumping water to a higher height, the throughput of the water pumping station is decreased, e.g. less m3/hour water pumped by the pump. When pumping water to a lower height, the throughput of the water pumping station is increased, e.g. more m3/hour water pumped by the pump.
						L/U	None
Big water pumping station	74 Workdays, 1.7t Concrete, 1.3t Gravel, 1.1t Asphalt, 2.5t Bricks, 0.83t Boards, 1.1t Steel, 0.17t Mechanical components	None	39 MWh	650 kW	None	Access	1x footpath access 3x water pipes(import) 3x water pipes(export)	See small water pumping station.
						L/U	None

Water tower

Name	Cost	Workers	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Small water tower	70 Workdays, 0.94t Concrete, 0.72t Gravel, 0.58t Asphalt, 2.1t Steel, 0.44t Mechanical components	None	0 MWh	0 kW	70m3 Water(export)	Access	1x footpath access 1x water pipes(import) 1x water pipes(export)	Water can be stored above ground in a water tower. Depending on where the players places the water tower, the water tower can take care of the water pressure in cities.
						L/U	None
Big water tower	511 Workdays, 6.8t Concrete, 5.3t Gravel, 4.2t Asphalt, 15t Steel, 3.2t Mechanical components	None	0 MWh	0 kW	300m3 Water(export)	Access	1x footpath access 2x water pipes(import) 2x water pipes(export)	See small water tower.
						L/U	None

Water underground reservoir

Name	Cost	Workers	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Water underground reservoir	363 Workdays, 7.7t Concrete, 5.9t Gravel, 4.7t Asphalt, 9.7t Steel, 2.0t Mechanical components	None	0 MWh	0 kW	500m3 Water(export)	Access	1x footpath access 2x Water pipes(import) 2x Water pipes(export)	For storing Water underground the player can use the water underground reservoir. Be aware that there is a height difference between the input and output connections.
						L/U	None

Water switch

Name	Cost	Workers	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Water switch	12 Workdays, 1.9t Concrete, 0.21t Gravel, 0.37t Steel	None	0 MWh	0 kW	1.0m3 Water(export)	Access	1x footpath access 1x Water pipes(import) 3x Water pipes(export)	The player can branch off of water pipes using a water switch. Contrary to the name, water switches cannot switch on or off water, and are only an interconnection between water pipes.
						L/U	None

Water substation

Name	Cost	Workers	Energy	Wattage	Storage	Structure		Notes
Water substation	46 Workdays, 0.90t Concrete, 0.69t Gravel, 0.55t Asphalt, 2.0t Bricks, 0.67t Boards, 0.59t Steel, 0.071t Mechanical components	None	0 MWh	0 kW	20m3 Water(export)	Access	1x footpath access 1x water pipes(import)	A water substation is placed for the local distribution of water to the surrounding buildings. How far away a water substation can be placed from a building depends on the terrain height in the environment. If the water substation is at a higher height than the building, the distance increases. If the water substation is at a lower height the distance is decreased. The larger the difference in height between water substation and building the more the distance is increased or decreased.
						L/U	None

Water pipes

Name	Cost	Throughput	Notes
Water pipe small	Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, Boards Usage depends on length and depth.	26,15m3	Water is transported through water pipes to consumers. These pipes can transport drinking water or water for production. Drinking water is water of a water quality of 97% or above. Food producing factories need drinking water while other factories operate with water of a lower quality of 97% or less. These factories do need some drinking water for the workers in the factory.
Water pipe medium	Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, Boards Usage depends on length and depth.	56,55m3	See water pipe small.
Water pipe big	Workdays, Concrete, Gravel, Steel, Boards Usage depends on length and depth.	127,23m3	See water pipe small.

Construction

Small water well

Requirements		Groundworks
393 Workdays 2.2t Asphalt 14t Bricks 4.8t Boards 3.6t Concrete 2.7t Gravel 1.3t Mechanical components 8.3t Steel		42 Workdays 2.2t Asphalt 3.6t Concrete 2.7t Gravel Mechanisms: Excavators (max. 2) Needs workers (max. 50)

Big water well

Requirements		Groundworks
744 Workdays 4.6t Asphalt 25t Bricks 8.4t Boards 7.5t Concrete 5.8t Gravel 2.7t Mechanical components 16t Steel		84 Workdays 4.6t Asphalt 7.5t Concrete 5.8t Gravel Mechanisms: Excavators (max. 2) Needs workers (max. 74)

Water treatment small

Requirements		Groundworks
612 Workdays 6.7t Asphalt 23t Bricks 7.8t Boards 10t Concrete 8.3t Gravel 1.6t Mechanical components 10t Steel		125 Workdays 6.7t Asphalt 10t Concrete 8.3t Gravel Mechanisms: Excavators (max. 3) Needs workers (max. 60)

Water treatment big

Requirements		Groundworks
1851 Workdays 16t Asphalt 45t Bricks 15t Boards 26t Concrete 20t Gravel 7.4t Mechanical components 41t Steel		302 Workdays 16t Asphalt 26t Concrete 20t Gravel Mechanisms: Excavators (max. 3) Needs workers (max. 182)

Gallery

• 
  Water and sewage transport vehicles
• 
  Water loading/unloading station