Sink
crafting
Source of clean water before utilities cut. Useful as a marker for your kitchen footprint.
Variants
| Variant | Tier | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sink | — | — |
About the sink
A sink is a fixture that holds a reserve of clean water, which becomes valuable once the regional water supply is shut off. Before the shutoff, plumbed sinks draw from the grid; afterward, a sink retains whatever water it had and can be refilled. In a base layout it also serves as a natural anchor for your kitchen and water-management footprint.
Placement & defense tips
- ▸Keep your sink in or next to your cooking area so washing, drinking, and food prep all happen in one spot.
- ▸Plan a rain collection setup nearby so you can refill the sink or water containers after utilities cut out.
- ▸Avoid relying on a single sink for your whole water supply; place it alongside stored water containers for redundancy.
- ▸Position the kitchen and sink centrally on a defended floor so you aren't exposed while doing routine chores.
Choosing a variant
- ▸The standard sink is the common fixture; its usefulness hinges on the water it stores once the grid water shuts off rather than on any material choice.
- ▸Treat the sink as one part of a broader water plan that includes rain collector barrels and bottled water, since a sink alone won't sustain you long-term.
- ▸Some sinks can be plumbed into a rain collector on the floor above to refill automatically, which is worth planning your kitchen around.
Common mistakes
- ✕Assuming the sink keeps producing water indefinitely after the water shutoff, when it only holds a finite reserve.
- ✕Not collecting and storing extra water before utilities fail, leaving you short once the sink runs dry.
- ✕Boiling sink water unnecessarily — stored tap water from a plumbed sink is already clean and safe to drink; it is rain-collector water that needs boiling.
Frequently asked
Does a sink still give water after the water is shut off?
It gives whatever water it was holding when the grid shut off, but that reserve is finite and won't refill on its own unless you plumb it to a rain collector.
Is sink water safe to drink after the shutoff?
Yes — water stored in a plumbed sink is clean tap water and is safe to drink without boiling. It is rain-collector (barrel) water that is tainted and must be boiled, or it can make you sick.
How do I refill a sink?
You can plumb a sink to a rain collector barrel placed on the floor above so rainfall tops it up over time.