FIELD REFERENCE / Crafting & machines
Probably Stolen Water Purification Guide
Test the liquid, identify the contaminant and use the tool that actually removes it.
Use a testing strip or AquaScan before processing. Tablets and a filtered pitcher handle different contaminants; they are not interchangeable. For a reliable machine route toward Pure Water, use a powered Water Purifier with sufficient Quality and check its Max Purity line. Always retest the finished batch and match its label.
Read the grade before choosing a treatment
The bands in this table are transcribed in the community water reference and illustrated in the water-manual walkthrough. A label can misrepresent the contents. A testing strip checks purity; AquaScan also shows the liquid's composition, which is more useful when a treatment stalls.
| Water grade | Purity band |
|---|---|
| Pure Water | 99.9% and above |
| High-Quality Water | 99% to below 99.9% |
| Basewater | 98% to below 99% |
| Ghostwater | 96% to below 98% |
| Rustwater | 90% to below 96% |
| Gutterflow | Below 90% |
Evidence: Wikily: water grades and treatment · AllThingsHow: water-treatment walkthrough
Match the tool to the problem
| Tool | Useful for | Limit to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Water Filter in a pitcher | Physical contamination, minerals and other filterable particles | Does not kill microbes; check remaining durability. |
| Purification tablet | Microbes and chemical contamination | Does not replace a filter or remove every possible impurity. |
| UV Lamp | Microbes | Does not solve heavy-metal contamination. |
| HydraTech Micro Water Purifier | Portable treatment toward Basewater | Different item and capability from the overnight machine. |
| Water Purifier machine | Powered overnight treatment | Its Quality and displayed Max Purity constrain the endpoint. |
Evidence: Wikily: water grades and treatment
Process a simple batch with tablets and a pitcher
Start with a small batch whose source and treatment you can track. Filtering may reduce the volume as material is removed, so check both purity and the amount left before pricing the sale.
- Test the source water before buying or mixing it. Keep unknown liquid separate from a batch you have already cleaned.
- Add the appropriate purification tablet treatment when microbial or chemical contamination requires it. Let the treatment finish before interpreting the final composition.
- Install a usable Water Filter in the Water Pitcher. Pour the source liquid through the pitcher into a receiving container.
- Test the treated liquid. If the grade is still too low, inspect what remains instead of adding the same treatment repeatedly.
- Use the labeler or matching-label control so the label describes the tested result. Keep the filter when selling water; remove it from a pitcher you intend to hand over.
Evidence: Steam: Water Trading Made Easy · Developer announcements and fixes
Use the machine to pursue Pure Water
Load the water container into the Water Purifier's working slot and supply enough energy for its displayed demand. Read the Max Purity value after fitting modules. Performance and Quality answer different questions: processing faster does not by itself establish a higher purity ceiling.
Run the machine overnight, then compare the result with the starting reading. If it has reached the displayed cap, waiting more nights with the same setup is not a plan for exceeding that cap. Improve the relevant Quality setup or use a different verified treatment path, then measure again.
Do not assume that a Water Purifier is suitable for chemical extracts. This page covers drinking-water treatment; follow the instructions for the particular chemical recipe and use an Evaporator when its solvent-removal step calls for one.
Evidence: AllThingsHow: water-treatment walkthrough · Steam: The Complete Chemist Guide
Why purity is not increasing
| Symptom | Next check |
|---|---|
| The filter changes nothing | Its durability and whether the remaining impurity is actually filterable. |
| Water is still contaminated after filtering | Microbes, chemicals or heavy metals may need a different treatment. |
| The machine did nothing overnight | Input placement, battery charge and the machine's operating state. |
| The machine improves water then stops | The displayed Max Purity and installed Quality modules. |
| The result became worse after pouring | Whether the receiver already contained another liquid. |
| A buyer refuses the pitcher | Remove the Water Filter before offering the water container. |
Evidence: Steam: Water Trading Made Easy · AllThingsHow: water-treatment walkthrough · Developer announcements and fixes
COUNTER QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Can a Water Filter remove microbes?
No. The release-era guides distinguish microbial treatment from physical filtration. Use the appropriate tablet, UV or purifier process and verify the result.
Will more nights always produce Pure Water?
No. Read the machine's Max Purity. A batch at its current cap needs a changed setup, not merely another night with the same settings.
Should I label water before testing it?
Test the finished batch first. A better printed label changes the claim, not the underlying composition.
Sources & evidence
Source notes identify the basis for this guide. Your current in-game tooltips and dialogue take precedence when a patch or mod changes a mechanic.
- Steam: Water Trading Made Easy ↗
Owlie's player guide. Used for the testing, tablet, filter and relabeling workflow; older advice is not assumed to survive balance changes.
- Wikily: water grades and treatment ↗
Community data reference for purity bands and treatment targets. Game mechanics only; not real-world water-treatment advice.
- AllThingsHow: water-treatment walkthrough ↗
Player walkthrough with in-game manual and machine screenshots; supports the tool workflow and Max Purity check.
- Steam: The Complete Chemist Guide ↗
lpinch's player guide checked against release game data. Supports evaporation and solvent recovery; no claim that this wiki reproduced the experiments.
- Developer announcements and fixes ↗
Official patch notes. Used for changed behavior, including filter removal, evaporator residue and mod compatibility.
Found a discrepancy? Send the page link and supporting evidence.