Rain collector barrels are essential items in Project Zomboid for collecting and storing water, providing a reliable water source for survival. Thus, learning how to use the rainwater collector successfully is important.
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In this post, we’ll guide you on how to use the rainwater collector in Project Zomboid.
The rainwater collector has lots of functions. You can store water, fill water bottles, or drink directly from it. In addition, you can pick it up, move, rotate, or disassemble it. Finally, it can be destroyed without getting back any materials.
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How to Use The Rainwater Collector in Project Zomboid
The rainwater collector is one of the biggest reasons why you should level up your carpentry skill, as it provides a high-capacity water container to help you extend your life throughout the power outage or water your plants.
Craft The Rainwater Collector
Although you can find a metal drum barrel at the campsite in Louisville, which can hold up to 800 units, rainwater collectors cannot be found in the world, so you need to craft it first.
There are 2 types of rainwater collectors in Project Zomboid. The table below shows what you need to make them:
| Name | Tools and Ingredients | Carpentry Skill | Maximum Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rainwater Collector | 1x Hammer 4x Planks 4x Nails 4x Garbage Bags | At least level 4 | 160 units |
| Large Rainwater Collector | 1x Hammer 4x Planks 4x Nails 4x Garbage Bags | At least level 7 | 400 units |
Check out this post for a step-by-step guide on how to make a rainwater collector.
Use the Rainwater Collector
Once you have crafted the rainwater collector, you should learn how to use it effectively.
1. Store Water
The primary purpose of the rainwater collector is to store rainwater, so it’s advisable to place them outside in the backyard, near the crops, or on the rooftop. Water from the rain is automatically filled into the container.
You can also place it inside and treat it as other water containers, meaning that you can add water to it by right-clicking on it and selecting “Add Water From Item” => “<Item That Holds Water”.
It’s worth noting that the rainwater collectors only store water. Other liquids, such as bleach, cannot be added to them.
To check the rainwater collector capacity, right-click on it and move the cursor to the “Rain Collector Barrel” option. A small pop-up will show the current units of water it holds.
2. Drink Water Directly
You can also drink water directly from the rain collector barrel if only it contains water. To do this, right-click on it and select “Drink” The pop-up appears after that showcases your thirst level and the current capacity.
However, if the filled water is taken from rain, lakes, or ponds, it’s marked as “Tainted”, and you should boil it first to purify it.
3. Fill Water
You can fill other containers using the stored water from the rainwater collector by right-clicking on it and selecting “Fill” => “Fill All” or choosing the specific containers.
This feature allows you to water crops, cook, wash clothing, or purify bandages.
4. Pick Up, Move, Rotate, and Disassemble
Like other pieces of furniture, you can pick up, move, rotate, or disassemble the rain collector barrel.
Click on the cabinet icon on the left side of the screen to enable 4 actions, then move the green square to the rain collector barrel to apply.
5. Destroy (Debug Mode Only)
In case you want to get rid of the rainwater collector, you can right-click on it and select “Destroy”. This action will make the container disappear immediately.
However, using the Destroy feature is not recommended, as you’ll lose all materials and the unit of water. Instead, you should disassemble it to take them back.
That’s how to use the rainwater collector in Project Zomboid!
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