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[LordZorintrhox]

So, normally I would just try this out and see what happens (fun) but this fort I really like and want to both play it straight and not savescum it, so here is the problem I face:

I am building a Moria styled hall, really friggin' huge, which will also be a cistern of epic proportions.  Just cuz.  The basic plan is to use the aquifer on the map to provide a continuous water flow that will power a massive bank of water wheels ( a 46x23 area, I think ) to provide power for more fun stuff.  The channel level would look something like this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]

X = solid walls
F = fortifications
  = open area on this level

(design simplified and scale altered)

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



        Cistern



XXXXXXXXFFFFFFFXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX       XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX       XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX       XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX       X       
XXXXXXXX       X <= H2O
XXXXXXXX       X       
XXXXXXXX       X   XXXX
XXXXXXXX       X   XXXX
XXXXXXXX       X   XXXX
XXXXXXXX           XXXX
XXXXXXXX           XXXX
XXXXXXXX           XXXX



From the side, the aquifer looks roughly like this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]


A = aquifer soil
_ = Top of Cistern (intended for now)
AAAAAAA
AAAXXXX
AAAAAXX
XXXXXXX
_______


Now, my question is what is the best way to drain from the aquifer here?  Since the aquifer layer is surrounded by a stone layer, I was thinking either:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]


. = Chanel
U = Escape staircase with hatch above

(Above top of cistern)
AAAXXXXX
AAAF . X
AAAF . X
AAAF U X
AAAXXXXX

(Top of Cistern)

XXXXFFFX
XXXX   X
XXXX   X
XXXX U X
XXXXXXXX


Which would that require aquifers drain trough fortifications on their borders, or:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]


V = Down ramp in Aquifer soil
^ = up ramp

(Above top of cistern)
AAAAAXXX
AAAAV  X
AAAAV  U
AAAAV  X
AAAAAXXX

(Top of Cistern)

XXXXFFFX
XXXX^  X
XXXX^  U
XXXX^  X
XXXXXXXX



Which will work but seems to have alot more potential for drowning.  There will of course be redundant safety measures and floodgates involved.  Suggestions?

[Jim Groovester]

Personally, I recommend collapsing an aquifer tile a few levels down to provide an infinite amount of instantaneous drainage, but that's just me.

Ehhhhhhhhhh, I can't foresee any problems with either of your current setups. Since you're planning on having many redundancies, it should keep any fortress destroying potential to a minimum.

I give your project a green light!

Just remember to be cautious when digging below aquifer layers, as that will cause water to leak through as well. You can do this in your giant cistern to provide some cool waterfalls, if you feel up to it.

[Hyndis]

Do be aware that large amounts of moving water can utterly kill your framerate. 

[Michaelsoftman]

Do be aware that large amounts of moving water can utterly kill your framerate. 

If it's below 7/7 then it kills your framerate... 7/7 water or magma doesn't have that much of an effect.

[LordZorintrhox]

Thanks.  That answers most of my questions.  Except this one: will carving a fortification directly into the natural stone wall that borders a soil aquifer allow water to pass through, or must there be a space behind said fortification in order for the water to drain?

[Jim Groovester]

Water should flow out with just the fortification.

This is me speculating; it's better to test it out yourself, though I don't see any reason why the fortification shouldn't work.

[Jimmy]

You can create a tunnel to the edge of the map below ground, then smooth the edge and carve a fortification. This will let the water flow off the map for drainage.

[Hyndis]

It may not work on a biome with an aquifer, even if its a different elevation.

Fortifications on the edge of the map are actually a bug and thus, they will act unpredictably.

[aklyatne]

On a map with an aquifier I was playing yesterday, I got through the aquifier with a cave-in and then decided it was too easy, so I set up a river to drown my dwarves.  I dug out a nice long channel ~2 layers below the aquifier, and then smoothed and fortified the edge of the map.  Well, the fortifications started leaking water.  Dwarves were drowned, and good times were had by all, even though it wasn't the way I intended,

tl;dr: Fortifications on the edge of the map can create water on maps with aquifiers.  Cause unknown.

[LordZorintrhox]

Okay...that's exceptionally strange.

While that's nice, what I really meant was this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]


A = aquifer
X = natural stone
F = Forticfication carved in natural stone

XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX
XXAAAF
XXAAAF
XXAAAF
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX


Because my aquifer doesn't span the entire map, nor many layers.

Though, from the fact that fortifications on the edge of the map do weird crap, I can safely assume that this should work.

[redacted123]

-

[Sutremaine]

tl;dr: Fortifications on the edge of the map can create water on maps with aquifiers.  Cause unknown.

Also on maps without them (map might or might not border on a biome with an aquifer level, but probably not). I was very surprised when I fortified a diorite edge and the water started coming in.

[Hyndis]

On a map with an aquifier I was playing yesterday, I got through the aquifier with a cave-in and then decided it was too easy, so I set up a river to drown my dwarves.  I dug out a nice long channel ~2 layers below the aquifier, and then smoothed and fortified the edge of the map.  Well, the fortifications started leaking water.  Dwarves were drowned, and good times were had by all, even though it wasn't the way I intended,

tl;dr: Fortifications on the edge of the map can create water on maps with aquifiers.  Cause unknown.

Its almost certainly related to being in an aquifer biome and how aquifers are coded in the game.

Fortifications act as a drain to the edge of the map. If its a dry edge, you can drain water. But if you dig into a huge pool of water instead, you're going to get flooded.

[Jim Groovester]

Fortifications act as a drain to the edge of the map. If its a dry edge, you can drain water. But if you dig into a huge pool of water instead, you're going to get flooded.

So, if you happened to have a wet edge and a dry edge on the same map (if possible), you could make your own underground river that would flow from edge to edge?

I'm going to have to try this as soon as I get some free time.

[Hyndis]

It might work. Embark on an area with an aquifer on one side of the map but the other side dry.

Are these off-map aquifers pressurized? I've hit water there before, but quickly walled things off before I was able to find out. I also tend not to play on aquifer maps, as I like complicated sewer projects from remote water sources best.