This is exactly what I need to power my
vault via hydro-power plant (which also operate the water filter with a "water control chip"). I'll shrink it down a bit, of course, but I definitely have a good spot to place it to serve as standalone power source for at least the surface vault. Plans are being designed to work on a "Deep Vault" (cavern layer) and have maybe it's own independent generator of similar design.
EDIT:
Just designed a schematic using a power kill-switch (without needing to shut off the reactor itself), and a tri-axle/mechanism core power distribution system. One is for +Z power (generally the northern gear assembly), E/W (depending on output direction) is same-level (+/-1Z margin), and another for -Z (generally southern gear assembly). And these go to substations (of similar distribution style) that further divide the power output for easier management of what gets powered.
A good rule of thumb to operate on I have intent for using is generally:
* +Z
SOURCE==** =Z
* -Z+Z (North) powers water towers and/or entrance trap systems (spike strips or something or a controlled flood); Build as many assemblies/V-axles necessary.
=Z (E/W) powers same-level pumbing (generally easing pressure from water tower or something, or flood control in case of leaks)
-Z (South) powers any sub-terranean systems (deeper flood control/drainage and magma pumping if accessible enough). Build as many assemblies/V-axles necessary.
The mechanism connected to all 3 (SOURCE==) is the master kill-switch/toggle assembly.
Any substations made follow similar suit.
This setup can make sewer systems (and other powered equipment) rather (more) awesome and practical; both for aesthetic and functional reasons.
Also makes use of it's own currents to self-power, unless you also want to link a kill-switch on the recycler node.
Despite being scaled down, the entire bottom row alone (Z+1) can keep recycling the power through the entire power plant itself while the upper floor can process the rest of the power to be distributed across the region.
Funny thought: Make a skyscraper (or earthscraper) that operates under these parameters (which can also regulate the water as it falls as well to prevent evaporation as it descends, a downward ramp screw can do the work easily to prevent water loss; so you can fill only once), if done right, let's say can power the whole world. Somebody, do this, and call it Hydrocity.
Oh, and I noticed something, as long as one of the water wheel's tiles are on top of a ground tile, or not hanging, they shouldn't break down when they're shut off (yet, still yield a full output). However, I advise having kill switches on both the power distributor (immediate) and the base-pump node (slower, but shuts off the waterflow, which in turn kills the power cycle).
EDIT:
Right, my mockup picture has a bit of an inconsistency. The bottom row to Lvl.3 wouldn't work. I would advise offsetting the pumps (Lvl.1 and 2) downward by at least 1 tile to make use of them as well (9x100(-12) (888) power recovered). My mistake. Then again, it's a model showing in a simpler setting how the device works anyhow.