Hydroelectric Dam losing efficiency due to "Low Water Depth"

[Mr. Florbo Shmorka]

First of all the dam works fine. I produces enough electricity to run my city and export some. the issue I have it the low water depth that brings my efficiency down to 10%. I have tried lowering the land behind it so the water would have more depth.

That didn't work so I tried raising it thinking it was the other way around? That obviously didn't work either. Not quite sure what it means or what it wants from me, but I would like it to run more efficient.

[jduffett]

I just played around with dams on a bunch of maps. In my opinion, the only map with a river suitable for a decent dam is Mountain Village. I built a massive dam on the lower river, and it made 2-400kW while the impounded reservoir filled, and only began to make meaningful power once the water lever reached part way up the rectangular spillway openings. This took a long time! At that point, it began to increase in efficiency - currently making about 250MW at about 44% efficiency. I'm assuming it will reach 100% and stop complaining about water depth once it reaches the top of the opening? If you've placed your dams too high (higher than the water source) you might never reach a high enough water level. The "strength" of the water source might be a factor too.

[boober]

I also have problems with hydro powerplant. Keep saying low water level, but passes lots of water through outlets to the other side all the time. I tried some terraforming around it but no luck.

[Rhaane]

Question. Are you also pumping water to use in your city out of the upstream side of the dam? In theory this should effect water and lower the amount that can hit your dam.. assuming the simulation is true and the physical water has actual value and weight in the maths.

[Forblaze]

Originally posted by Masterbátes:

I have tried lowering the land behind it so the water would have more depth.

Is behind upstream or downstream? I was able to fix this by just digging a giant hole downstream.

[Muddy Fox]

I'm having the same problem. At first my dam was 100%, powering the whole city. Then it's at 8% because "Low water depth" when the water is definitely as high as it had been.

[boober]

Looks like a bug to me. What would be the best way to report it to the devs?

I am not using upstream water to feed city as someone suggested. My dam looks like a Frankenstein after me trying to fix it by terraforming to no avail;)

[Whimpy]

Is there a minimum size for a dam? I have raised ground to form a reservoir and filled it with sewer water which has created a waterfall. I was thinking I could use it to power a dam.

[[IN]Dolrathor]

Originally posted by Forblaze:

Originally posted by Masterbátes:

I have tried lowering the land behind it so the water would have more depth.

Is behind upstream or downstream? I was able to fix this by just digging a giant hole downstream.

don't work for me try every thing

[That Spaceman Spiff Guy]

I think the physics with water needs some tweaking. In CS1, I built a dam in one of the maps that had a single river through it, but high enough hills around that that plopping it almost anywhere powered my city for a long time when wind became less efficient. In CS2, I'm playing the map with the curvy river running through it and can't get over 1MHz of power no matter where I put it. There are some hills toward to the east and I thought it would provide a great place to make a deep dam, but the water barely filled even when I allowed time for it to fill. Judging by comments, am I supposed to wait even longer for the water to fill? Or, is my assumption correct that the water physics may not be working right and making dam-building a bit haphazard?

[dangbarbuto]

Originally posted by spaceman_spiff1980:

I think the physics with water needs some tweaking. In CS1, I built a dam in one of the maps that had a single river through it, but high enough hills around that that plopping it almost anywhere powered my city for a long time when wind became less efficient. In CS2, I'm playing the map with the curvy river running through it and can't get over 1MHz of power no matter where I put it. There are some hills toward to the east and I thought it would provide a great place to make a deep dam, but the water barely filled even when I allowed time for it to fill. Judging by comments, am I supposed to wait even longer for the water to fill? Or, is my assumption correct that the water physics may not be working right and making dam-building a bit haphazard?

I am in the same map, also put my dam to the east in the areas where the river had some cliffs alongside. The reservoir is filling, I have noticed, but still not high enough to power it. the river downstream is drying up, ive had to move my water pumps numerous times because of the dropping water levels. No good tutorials (or any for that matter) on CSII dam building. Not sure how similar it is to CS1's dam building. Very frustrating.

[That Spaceman Spiff Guy]

Originally posted by dangbarbuto:

Originally posted by spaceman_spiff1980:

I think the physics with water needs some tweaking. In CS1, I built a dam in one of the maps that had a single river through it, but high enough hills around that that plopping it almost anywhere powered my city for a long time when wind became less efficient. In CS2, I'm playing the map with the curvy river running through it and can't get over 1MHz of power no matter where I put it. There are some hills toward to the east and I thought it would provide a great place to make a deep dam, but the water barely filled even when I allowed time for it to fill. Judging by comments, am I supposed to wait even longer for the water to fill? Or, is my assumption correct that the water physics may not be working right and making dam-building a bit haphazard?

I am in the same map, also put my dam to the east in the areas where the river had some cliffs alongside. The reservoir is filling, I have noticed, but still not high enough to power it. the river downstream is drying up, ive had to move my water pumps numerous times because of the dropping water levels. No good tutorials (or any for that matter) on CSII dam building. Not sure how similar it is to CS1's dam building. Very frustrating.

How long did you wait? I waited for about five minutes or so with the highest speed setting and saw it move some, but it's not like CS1 where it will fill up to the top of the hills fairly readily - provided you didn't go too much higher than the hills - and it will stabilize just below the dam because the floodgates are open and allowing the water to resume its flow. Here, I don't think the flow physics is working right and the water acts as if the flow barely moves. So, it won't fill up normally and just "stop" the river.

[dangbarbuto]

Originally posted by spaceman_spiff1980:

Originally posted by dangbarbuto:

I am in the same map, also put my dam to the east in the areas where the river had some cliffs alongside. The reservoir is filling, I have noticed, but still not high enough to power it. the river downstream is drying up, ive had to move my water pumps numerous times because of the dropping water levels. No good tutorials (or any for that matter) on CSII dam building. Not sure how similar it is to CS1's dam building. Very frustrating.

How long did you wait? I waited for about five minutes or so with the highest speed setting and saw it move some, but it's not like CS1 where it will fill up to the top of the hills fairly readily - provided you didn't go too much higher than the hills - and it will stabilize just below the dam because the floodgates are open and allowing the water to resume its flow. Here, I don't think the flow physics is working right and the water acts as if the flow barely moves. So, it won't fill up normally and just "stop" the river.

man I waited literal hours real time at max speed in game lol. I fills up, but you have to remember that everything behind the damn to the edge of the map has to reach the same level of water. Thats why its taking so long, it has a large volume to fill even, even though the damn I built is only about 3 or 4 tiles from the edge of the map

[That Spaceman Spiff Guy]

I just saw the color gradation for the water when I was placing a water treatment plant. Did you place it on a purple spot? (There aren't many on that end...)

[Azi]

Originally posted by spaceman_spiff1980:

I just saw the color gradation for the water when I was placing a water treatment plant. Did you place it on a purple spot? (There aren't many on that end...)

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198058144426/screenshot/2110558879636618477/

I did this one on a purple spot, right by the output. I got 99% inefficiency due to low water depth. Maybe its too short?

[Vidares]

I have finally managed to get my hydropower plant up to 100%!!!! Efficiency. The trick was to raise the ground on the water reservoir side to a few metres below the turbines AND drill a 10m wide strip into the hell (lowest possible) on the downstream side.

(Also dont forget that you cant build the Dam higher than the water source, otherwise it wont fill)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063218854
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063218966