Aquifer, is it that bad?

[Funkers]

So, is embarking on an aquifer such a big deal? When I try the embark finder on the map, I feel like most places get rejected just because there's an aquifer there. Also, what's the difference between light and heavy aquifer?

[EvanR]

Aquifers are water bearing rock. You need water for certain things so that's good. But you probably need to go below the aquifer for reasons. In that case light aquifer is easier to bypass but yields less water. Heavy aquifer is more challenging but you get a lot of water.

[Morkonan]

Light Aquifers are not bad. You can dig below them and wall the stairwell or smooth it to prevent the water from flooding your fortress.

But, the inconvenience there may be inconvenient at first. If you really need to dig down and hit the light aquifer, there will be a delay while you work things out and that could cause issues.

https://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2014:Aquifer

Note: There may be some differences here in the Steam version. I don't know what's applicable, there.

PS: You can also strategically use aquifers to build Wells on, so they're not all bad.

[crazyabe111]

Yes and no- Aquifers are a pain and will easily cause fatal drowning- but are a fair source of water should you lack a river or other “safe” source of water you can re-route for your needs.

As for the difference between light and heavy- Light Aquifer slowly fill, while Heavy Aquifer are functionally identical to ‘river source’ tiles and rapidly produce water.

[keith.hearn]

The problem with an aquifer is that when you try to dig down through it, it just floods your stairs/ramps and you can dig down in a flooded tile. There are ways to get through, but they're non-trivial. I'm just coming back to the game after being away for over a decade, so I'm a little rusty on the exact details.

You don't want to deal with them when you're trying to learn all of the other things you have to learn. Especially when you're kind of in a race to get through the aquifer before winter, while also trying to set up food/drink production and getting enough stuff to trade, etc.

I don't know exactly what the difference between light and heavy is (it was probably added since I last played). Probably how many z-levels it covers. An aquifer that is only one level thick isn't that bad. One that is 10 levels thick will take a *lot* more effort to get through.

[EvanR]

One thing about heavy aquifers is, yeah they are a source of serious amounts of water. But also they will accept / drain / sink any amount of water you force into them. Could be useful

[Diarmuhnd]

Originally posted by Funkers:

So, is embarking on an aquifer such a big deal? When I try the embark finder on the map, I feel like most places get rejected just because there's an aquifer there. Also, what's the difference between light and heavy aquifer?

Nope, they are easy yo deal with and can give your underground fort access to safe water. You just need to know how to engineer it. Read a guide, or watch a video, many players have made tutorials for that. Once you know how its pretty easy.