River gone, and all water frozen

[Luckstats]

How do i get water? My river has completely disapeared and the stagnant pools are frozen. Does the river come back? Do i just hope everyone survives? am i ♥♥♥♥♥♥???

[Arcanua]

The river should come back in the spring when everything thaws, but you shouldn't need water unless you have a bunch of dwarves in the hospital. They don't like water and will work a lot slower if you give them that instead of alcohol.

[Evilmasteryoda]

There are underground caverns that should have water. But after the River freezes it should come back mid spring or early depending on your biome.

[The Former]

Dwarves survive on ale, not water.

This sounds like a joke, but seriously, they don't want water anyway. Better is to make sure they're stocked in alcohol (made at the Still).

The river does come back in spring though, unless you're in a perpetually frozen region. If you really need water in the meantime, wells are an option.

[Rabblerouser]

Welcome to winter. Hope you brewed drinks.
IIRC dwarves can survive solely on booze and lose speed when they're sober. Pretty much just live off of "hair of the dog".

[McFuzz]

You should have beer, not water. If nobody is injured, then nobody needs to drink. You can brew beer without water so if you have none, start brewing.

[Rabblerouser]

Originally posted by Evilmasteryoda:

There are underground caverns that should have water. But after the River freezes it should come back mid spring or early depending on your biome.

I'd recommend trying to build a drawbridge blockade connected a lever to yoink it up if some... fun shows up.

[aidandixon1111]

Originally posted by Rabblerouser:

Originally posted by Evilmasteryoda:

There are underground caverns that should have water. But after the River freezes it should come back mid spring or early depending on your biome.

I'd recommend trying to build a drawbridge blockade connected a lever to yoink it up if some... fun shows up.

yyea

[Luckstats]

Thanks guys, appreciate the quick replies :)

[Avloren]

Also when the river/pools thaw in the spring, you should (carefully!) redirect some of that water underground and fill a small room with it. Build a well over that, and you now have a year-round source of water.

But like everyone is saying, you don't actually need water much. It's mainly for irrigating fields for farming (one time only) and for giving to injured dwarves (your only ongoing need; a small supply is enough). Dwarves can turn plants + barrels into booze which they drink, no water input needed.

[Rabblerouser]

If you dig deep enough, there's even more hidden fun stuff. 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

[Rabblerouser]

Originally posted by Avloren:

Also when the river/pools thaw in the spring, you should (carefully!) redirect some of that water underground and fill a small room with it. Build a well over that, and you now have a year-round source of water.

But like everyone is saying, you don't actually need water much. It's mainly for irrigating fields for farming (one time only) and for giving to injured dwarves (your only ongoing need; a small supply is enough). Dwarves can turn plants + barrels into booze which they drink, no water input needed.

For a well, don't you need to either build a floor/walls or smooth floor/walls so the water doesn't turn stagnant?

[Avloren]

Originally posted by Rabblerouser:

For a well, don't you need to either build a floor/walls or smooth floor/walls so the water doesn't turn stagnant?

I think you just need to run the water through a screw pump to 'purify' it, and it should stay clean after that? But I always smooth/engrave everything anyway, including my cisterns, so you might be right.

[Sneep Snorp]

Booze is far more important than water for starters but sometimes the caverns got water for you if you need it, things can be swimming around in there though so be careful. Also when winter thaws you should get your water back in early to mid of the first month, assuming youre not on like a taiga or something