Manual
Water Trading Manual
A four-page manual on water grades, testing, purification and water scams.
1. Grading
The quality of water is determined by its purity:
Purity
- Pure Water
- 99.9%+
- High-Quality
- 99%-99.9%
- Basewater
- 98%-99%
- Ghostwater
- 96%-98%
- Rustwater
- 90%-96%
- Gutterflow
- Below 90%
WARNING: IF CONSUMED GUTTERFLOW, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION
2. Identification
Water sold on the station may not be labeled correctly, whether intentionally or not. Always verify water quality before purchase and consumption.
A Water Testing Strip is a cheap and easy way to test the purity of water.
3. Purification
Water on the station can contains multiple types of contaminants. Each method of purification is effective against only certain types of contaminants. If repeated attempts do not improve the water's purity, your chosen purification method cannot remove the remaining contaminants in the water.
Water Purification Tablets reduce chemical contaminants first, then eliminate microbial contaminants with what remains. One tablet is enough for a large bottle of Rustwater; dirtier water may require several.
When installed inside a pitcher, it filters water as it is poured in. It removes impurities, microplastics, and organic waste. Filters have limited durability.
Using Purification Tablets and a Water Filter together should bring most water up to Basewater, or even High-Quality Water, depending on the initial purity. Heavily contaminated water may require several tablets.
To reach Pure Water, a dedicated Water Purifier with properly installed Modules is required.
Purifying Gutterflow using basic purification methods is not recommended, as it rapidly degrades Water Filter durability.
4. Types of Water
Hard to procure even for those living on the Upper Levels. Incredibly expensive and used primarily in sensitive environments like Hospitals and Laboratories. In Upper Levels societies, offering pure water to guests demonstrates high social status.
The standard on the Upper Levels. Safe for drinking, cooking, and most household uses, it is more accessible but still costly.
The standard for Lower Levels. Adequate for short-term use, but prolonged exposure can contribute to development of chronic disease.
Indistinguishable by eye from other higher quality water, yet unsafe to drink unfiltered. Ghostwater is most commonly used in farming and industry. The sale of mislabeled Ghostwater is a common scam in the Lower Levels.
Unsuitable for farming, and dangerous to drink. Can be identified visually.
Heavily contaminated and toxic. Seek immediate medical attention if consumed. Can be visually identified.
5. Common Water Trading Scams
Rustwater and Gutterflow
Rustwater and Gutterflow are harder to mislabel since they are visually distinguishable from other types of water by color.
Ghostwater
The sale of Ghostwater mislabeled as Basewater is a common scam in the Lower Levels. Selling large volume of mislabeled Ghostwater is a crime.
Customer Behaviour
Scavengers are typically too poor to carry a Water Testing Kit. Some Citizens of the Lower Levels and Scavengers will not buy Pure Water. Tourists and Upper Level Citizens are often too oblivious to test the purity of the water they buy. Customers requesting large amounts of water will typically carry a Water Testing Kit.
