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Author Topic: How to safely drain ponds?  (Read 1564 times)

guitarxe

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How to safely drain ponds?
« on: May 30, 2012, 08:06:06 pm »

I have some surface ponds that are getting in the way of my construction plans, but thinking of how to drain them I actually have no idea how! I thought of digging a deeper reservoir one z-level lower and let it drain into it, but how can I get my dwarf to safely escape after he digs out the last tile holding the water?
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Gaybarowner

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2012, 08:15:29 pm »

use flood gates and or grates makes it really easy to do so
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Xheia

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2012, 08:17:58 pm »

I would also suggest designating the pond as a water source activity zone, and then another reservoir (or river) as a pit/pond to be filled. Of course, you need some extra labor to do so... If your biome freezes, you can mine out the ice and remove it.
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knutor

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2012, 08:20:50 pm »

Spoiler (click to show/hide)
However that doesn't answer your question because ponds do not have rock around them, but instead they have soil layers...  Hmm.  This should answer it. 
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

There is another way, but I'm not sure if Toady is snuffing that way out or not.  I'll keep it to myself.  HEH!  Knutor
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HiEv

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2012, 08:21:01 pm »

A fairly quick and easy thing to do is just build a pump next to it and have a pump operator drain it.  You'll get a little flooding, but it should evaporate quickly enough.  Direct it towards a river/ocean/partially empty pool if you have one for faster drainage.  Then you can just floor it over and be done with it.

The flooding can also be handy if you want to do some above ground farming and have some dry tiles you need to muddy.
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IT 000

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2012, 09:08:08 pm »

Chances are a pond won't flood your fort or cause any significant damage, it'll just get a bunch of mud everywhere. Just chink a hole in the side and as soon as it's drained run in and build a road over the ground to prevent refilling.
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King Mir

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2012, 11:53:13 pm »

You don't need to wait to build a roof; you can build it right over the water.

guitarxe

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Re: How to safely drain ponds?
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2012, 07:31:09 pm »

You don't need to wait to build a roof; you can build it right over the water.

/facepalm... I had no idea I could build right over water..
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