Where to get water at the very start
| Source | How it works |
|---|---|
| The Longkeep well | the first village with a campfire and a bed; the well stands at the bottom of the ruins, next to the campfire |
| Other wells in ruins | including Rookmore, Harvest Homestead, Westcott, Diadwyn, Pikemead's Reach, Roostnook, Mayfair Lot (Early Access list) |
| Lakes and ponds | since the "Wake of the Water" update they're in every biome — the pouch, watering can and pump draw water from open water |
| Chests and sacks | water sometimes drops from containers in abandoned villages; since 1.0 enemies no longer drop water pouches ("a bit excessive") |
You carry water in a Water Pouch: craft it by hand from 1 Animal Fur; it holds 20 portions. Since "Wake of the Water", pouches have a fill level and don't stack. You can also drink water — according to the wiki it gives +5 stamina and +10 stamina regeneration for 15 minutes (older guides list smaller values).
A well in the ruins gives 5 portions at a time and refills over time (up to 12). Careful — in Early Access, hitting a well with a pickaxe or axe destroyed it, and a destroyed well couldn't be repaired.
Your own Water Well — how to unlock it
The well isn't available in the first hours. According to the wiki:
- Rescue the Carpenter (Cade Hawthorn).
- Complete his quest "Finding Masonry Tools" — it requires "Table Saw For The Carpenter" and reaching the capital Pikemead's Reach (a Blacksmith quest) first. The Masonry Tools are in the camp at the Pillars of Creation.
- At the Masonry Tools station, the Carpenter crafts the bucket and the well.
| Item | Where | Recipe (wiki, pre-1.0) | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden Bucket | Carpenter | 2 Wood Planks, 1 Metal Sheets, 1 Charcoal | well ingredient |
| Water Well | Carpenter + Masonry Tools | 20 Linen, 100 Stone, 1 Wooden Bucket | up to 12 portions, 5 at a time, refills by itself |
| Improved Water Well | Carpenter + Masonry Tools | 20 Linen, 100 Limestone, 1 Wooden Bucket, 2 Bronze Bars | up to 15 portions, 5 at a time |
Guides list different recipes for the improved well (with Sandstone, Iron Bars or 30 Linen) — check in-game. Version 1.0 lowered the cost of many recipes, especially early on, so the numbers may be smaller.
Where to place the well: next to stations that use water — the Seedbed (seedlings), the kitchen and the alchemy station. According to Keen Games, stations "can rely on the water in nearby wells" — they take water from a well nearby, and you can fill a station's own tank from the well with one button. A freshly placed well is empty and fills up over time.
Water Dispenser — endless water
| Item | Where | Recipe (wiki) | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Dispenser | Workbench | 1 Metal Scraps, 3 Tin Bars | pours water endlessly until its outlet is underwater |
| Natural Water Dispenser | Workbench | 40 Shell Limestone, 4 Steel Bars, 8 Iron Dust | the same, different look |
| Water Barrel | Carpenter | 4 Wood Planks, 2 Copper Bars, 1 Charcoal | collects rainwater |
- The dispenser recipe unlocks at the Nomad Highlands crafting tier (it used to be the Kindlewastes — changed in Patch #11).
- You place a dispenser on the side of a block (including rock or dirt) and water flows down — about 4.5 m³ per second according to the wiki. It can be switched on and off.
- The number of dispensers in a base depends on your Flame level: 1 (levels 2–3), 5 (4), 10 (5), 20 (6), 30 (7), 40 (8), 50 (9). The developers haven't given limits for the new levels 10 and 11 from version 1.0.
- Flooded your base? The Flame Altar has a "Remove water" button that removes all water from the base. Drains also help (Wall Drain, Floor Drain — from 1 stone).
Watering can, pump and irrigation
| Tool | Where | Recipe (wiki) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watering Can | Blacksmith | 4 Charcoal, 6 Metal Scraps, 1 Coal Powder | 100 |
| Portable Water Pump | Blacksmith | 2 Bronze Bars, 1 Leather, 4 Wood Planks | 500 |
| Water Pouch | by hand | 1 Animal Fur | 20 |
How water works on a farm:
- Water is an ingredient of seedlings. In the Farmer's Seedbed, every seedling recipe includes water (usually 1 portion on the wiki). The Seedbed has its own tank — fill it with the watering can, the pump, a button on a nearby well, or pouches in your backpack.
- Holding the watering can at a plant shows its growth stage, soil and water level and what the plant needs; it also lets you set a maximum growth stage. In 1.0 the watering can got a tutorial.
- Rice has to stand in water, algae only grow underwater. Since 1.0 you can plant cattails and reed in shallow water.
- Dig irrigation channels with the rake (Rake: 6 Wood Logs, 2 String, 2 Stone). Flow is controlled with Irrigation Gates and Water Barriers.
- A water wheel in flowing water powers the mill and other factories.
What you need water for
| What | Recipe (wiki, pre-1.0) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Health Potion (+200 HP) | 1 Water, 1 Penny Bun, 1 Purple Berries | Alchemist |
| Greater Health Potion (+400 HP) | 1 Honey, 1 Water, 1 Purple Berries, 1 Chamomile | Alchemist |
| Fell Curse Cleansing Tonic | 1 Water, 2 Fresh Shroud Spore | by hand |
| Ice Bolt (20 charges) | 2 Water, 5 Shroud Liquid | Alchemist |
| Boiled Eggs ×5 | 5 Eggs, 5 Water | Cooking Station |
| Chamomile Tea ×5 | 5 Water, 5 Chamomile | Cooking Station |
| Chicken Soup ×5 | 5 Water, 3 Forest Beet, 1 Salt, 3 Raw Bird Meat, 3 Bell Pepper | Farmer's kitchen |
| Seedlings | usually 1 Water | Seedbed |
Potion recipes have changed several times — in 1.0 the developers also fixed how water is displayed as a potion ingredient. If the in-game numbers differ, trust the game.
Water and building — what to watch out for
- Flooded crafting stations stop working, and torches, ovens and fireplaces go out near water.
- A flooded bed loses its assignment (respawn point).
- There are always air bubbles at a Flame Altar — teleporting and respawning underwater is safe.
- On servers, the Visitor role can't change terrain outside bases — protection against flooding other people's bases.
FAQ
How do I get water early in the game?
Make a pouch from 1 fur and fill it at the Longkeep well or in a lake. You can build your own well only after reaching Pikemead's Reach and the Carpenter's quest "Finding Masonry Tools".
How do I build a well?
At the Carpenter's Masonry Tools station: 20 Linen, 100 Stone and 1 Wooden Bucket (pre-1.0 wiki recipe). You get the Masonry Tools in the quest "Finding Masonry Tools".
Does a well give infinite water?
No — it gives 5 portions at a time, holds up to 12 and refills over time. Endless water comes from the Water Dispenser.
Where do I get the Water Dispenser?
It's a Workbench recipe: 1 Metal Scraps and 3 Tin Bars. It unlocks at the Nomad Highlands crafting tier.
What does 1.0 change about water?
Not much: the developers fixed cases where water acted in "inconsistent or incorrect ways", enemies no longer drop pouches, the watering can has a tutorial, and you can plant cattails and reed in shallow water. The changelog doesn't change wells.
