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v0.34:Reservoir
| This article is about an older version of DF. |
A reservoir (or cistern) is a room constructed to contain water or magma, used to store water whenever such storage is needed. At its simplest, a reservoir is simply a room that is mined out and then sealed (with a wall or floodgate), and then water is routed into it. Such a structure is useful in a variety of situations: be it storing sparse water on scorching or freezing maps, as a means of ensuring a consistent internal water supply, to store desalinated and de-stagnated water rendered drinkable routed through a screw pump, to store magma brought up through a pump stack for use in a variety of things, or to create an internal source of water for use in drowning chambers.
Reservoirs are relatively basic in construction, consisting of walls arranged in such a pattern as to form a closed container, complete with a floodgate in order to access the stored contents. Getting the desired contents from their place in the world to your reservoir is another thing entirely, although you should avoid having to use something where mechanics will likely assist you.
Usually reservoirs are made refillable (obviously, because water in them will eventually run low) and therefore can be made autorefillable with pressure plates or refilled manually by levers. If the reservoir is used for drinking, it is highly recommended to disconnect the reservoir from the water source after filling in order to prevent the water from being contaminated or invaded by amphibious creatures (carving a fortification can help with building destroyers).
Reservoirs are very useful to supply fortresses with water during cold seasons in temperate or cold climates. For example, a secured 20x25x1 underground reservoir can last for many years without needing to be refilled, even in a sober fortress.
Reservoirs are essential structures in any fortress containing an ocean biome as pumping water through a screw pump into them is the only way to desalinate the water present, allowing dwarves to actually use it. If desalinated water comes into contact with salty water, the entire reservoir will become permanently salty.[1]