Water and thirst: Water Coolers, boiling, and staying hydrated

Field Complaint

My character keeps getting dehydrated. Water Coolers seem limited and boiling takes forever. What is the best way to stay hydrated?

Validated Response

There are four ways to get water and you should be using all of them. Water Coolers are your best friend — they hold way more water than sinks, give about 15 thirst per drink, and are found throughout the facility, especially the Office Sector pool area and cafeteria. Build your base near a Cooler and refilling becomes a natural routine instead of a chore. Sinks work too but only refill every few days, so do not rely on them as your primary source. Boiled Water from a stove is your backup plan — boil 1L of tainted water and you get 250ml of clean water in about 60 seconds. It works, but it burns fuel and time. The Water Filter is the upgrade path: it converts tainted water at a 1:1 ratio instead of the stove's punishing 4:1. If you are doing extended runs, carry a filled Water Bottle so you are not caught dry in the middle of a Portal World where potable water is rare — bring bottles with you. Do not drink from unmarked Lab Sector sources. That water is contaminated and will give you Sickness, which is way worse than being thirsty. The Lead Belly trait lets you drink tainted water without getting sick, so if you are the type who keeps accidentally sipping the wrong puddle, consider picking it up.

Summary

Build your base near a Water Cooler and dehydration stops being a problem. The Cooler provides infinite water — you just need to walk past it regularly.

Prerequisites

• Locate a Water Cooler in the Office Sector
• Craft a Water Bottle for travel
• Understand that tainted water causes sickness

Recommended Loadout

• Water Cooler (found, not crafted)
• Water Bottle for exploration
• Boiling pot setup as backup

Step-by-Step Route

1. Build your base near a Water Cooler — the cafeteria and pool area both have them
2. Drink from the Cooler regularly, about 15 thirst per drink, infinite supply
3. Craft and fill a Water Bottle before any extended exploration run
4. Avoid drinking from unmarked water sources in Lab Sector — many are contaminated
5. Boil tainted water on a stove as a backup: 1L tainted produces 250ml clean in 60 seconds
6. Unlock the Water Filter in the third main area for 1:1 conversion with no delay
7. The Lead Belly trait lets you drink tainted water without getting sick

Common Mistakes

• Building far from a Water Cooler and spending more time running for water than exploring
• Drinking from random sinks in Lab Sector and getting the Sick debuff
• Forgetting filled water bottles when entering Portal Worlds where clean water is rare