There are three main ways to get water in Probably Stolen: buy it from traders, unlock the Rustwater tap through Mr. Wild, or produce it with a Moisture Farm. Buying water is useful early on, while the tap provides a renewable supply for larger-scale water trading. Here's how each method works and which is worth using.
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All Ways to Get Water
How to Buy Water
How to Unlock the Water Tap
How to Produce Water With a Moisture Farm
Best Way to Get Water
All Ways to Get Water in Probably Stolen
You don't have to start as a Water Merchant to build a water business. However, the equipment and upgrades available to you determine how easily you can obtain a steady supply.
| Method | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Buying Water | Purchase filled containers from water sellers. | Getting water without production equipment. |
| Rustwater Tap | Unlock Mr. Wild's tap upgrades to collect Rustwater. | Renewable water supply. |
| Moisture Farm | Use powered equipment to generate water overnight. | Passive water production. |
How to Buy Water in Probably Stolen
Buying water from traders is the simplest option when you don't have access to a dedicated water source. Water sellers can offer filled containers that you can purchase and process for resale.
However, the water's advertised grade isn't always accurate. Some sellers offer mislabeled containers, meaning you could pay for Basewater and receive something closer to Ghostwater.
Check Water Quality Before Buying
If you have Water Testing Strips, use them to inspect a container before committing to a purchase.
- Inspect the water being offered by the seller.
- Use a Water Testing Strip on the container to reveal its purity.
- Compare the actual quality with the advertised label.
- If the water is mislabeled, confront the seller about the discrepancy.
- Decide whether the corrected price makes the water worth purchasing.
Exposing mislabeled water can help you negotiate a better deal. This matters particularly when buying larger bottles, where an incorrect quality grade can leave you paying too much for water that still needs substantial treatment.
I'd prioritize reasonably clean water early on rather than buying the cheapest heavily contaminated supply. Cleaner water generally takes less work to prepare for sale.
How to Unlock the Water Tap in Probably Stolen
The Rustwater tap is the better long-term option if you want a renewable source rather than relying on whatever traders bring to your shop.
Access to Rustwater through the tap is tied to upgrades from Mr. Wild. The available information identifies two related tap upgrades, with both needed for unlimited Rustwater collection.
To establish your water supply:
- Find Mr. Wild and check his available upgrades.
- Work toward unlocking the Rustwater tap upgrades using the required Credits and favors.
- Complete the relevant upgrades to gain access to a renewable Rustwater supply.
- Collect the Rustwater in a suitable container for storage or processing.
The tap supplies Rustwater, which is heavily contaminated. Having unlimited access to it doesn't mean you immediately have unlimited High-Quality Water.
What Should You Do With Rustwater?
Rustwater can be cleaned using water purification equipment. You'll generally need to address its contaminants before filtering it into a valuable grade.
Purification Tablets, a powered Water Purifier, and a filtered pitcher are useful tools for this process. The exact treatment depends on the water's contamination levels.
For detailed processing instructions, see our Probably Stolen Water Purification Guide.
I'd work toward the tap once you're ready to process water regularly. The supply becomes much more valuable when you have the equipment needed to improve its quality consistently.
How to Produce Water With a Moisture Farm
The Moisture Farm generates water automatically, making it another option for players interested in producing their own supply.
Unlike the Rustwater tap, it requires electricity and produces a limited amount each night.
How to Set Up a Moisture Farm
- Obtain a Moisture Farm.
- Connect a suitable power source, such as a battery.
- Attach a water container to collect its output.
- Leave the equipment running overnight.
- Collect the produced water the following day.
In the full-release version, an unmodified Moisture Farm has been reported to generate approximately 850 mL of water per night while consuming 6 units of energy per day.
Its output also becomes less efficient as you operate additional farms. These limitations make it a less attractive option for rapidly collecting large quantities of water without further investment.
Is a Moisture Farm Worth Buying?
Moisture Farms are convenient because they produce water without requiring you to purchase every container from a seller. However, their energy requirements and relatively small output can make them expensive to operate compared with processing water from an upgraded tap.
Quality modules can improve the grade of water they produce, so a developed setup has more potential than an unmodified farm.
I'd avoid investing heavily in several Moisture Farms immediately. Establishing a reliable purification process first gives you more flexibility, especially if you're planning to sell large amounts of water.
What's the Best Way to Get Water in Probably Stolen?
The best method depends on whether you need water immediately or want a dependable supply for the rest of your playthrough.
- Early game: Buy water from traders and use testing equipment to avoid paying too much for mislabeled bottles.
- Growing water business: Unlock Mr. Wild's Rustwater tap upgrades and invest in equipment that can process the resulting supply.
- Passive production: Consider a Moisture Farm when you can support its energy costs and make use of its output.
Keep Your Large Water Containers
One important early consideration is container storage. The Water Merchant start includes a 6L jug, and keeping it can make handling larger amounts of water much easier.
Large containers are useful for collecting, combining, and processing batches without having to manage numerous smaller bottles. Replacing a large jug may also be inconvenient if traders aren't currently selling one.
I'd keep that starting jug rather than selling it for a quick profit.
Getting Water Is Different From Purifying It
Water-producing equipment and water-processing equipment serve different purposes. A Moisture Farm generates water, the Rustwater tap supplies it, and traders sell existing containers.
By comparison, Water Purifiers improve the water you already have. The Evaporator is also not a water source, since it removes liquid from chemical mixtures during overnight processing.
For a sustainable water business, my recommendation is to start with purchased water, develop your purification equipment, and then unlock the Rustwater tap. That gives you a renewable supply without depending entirely on the limited daily production of Moisture Farms.
