Water Wheel

The Water Wheel is a hydro power building that converts flowing water into mechanical power for a colony. It requires horizontal flow to operate and is undershot only, meaning it responds to lateral water movement rather than vertical falls. The structure occupies a 3x2 footprint and interacts with water levels measured in 1 meter blocks; it generates power when water running through it remains below 2 meters in height. If the water level exceeds 2 meters the Water Wheel becomes flooded and stops producing power. Placing a Water Wheel at the foot of a waterfall does not flood it, because vertical flow alone does not drive the wheel.

Water engineering centers on dams, canals and flow control. The best locations for Water Wheel are at dam overflow points, natural fast-flowing sections of rivers, or purpose-built narrow canals that produce strong lateral flow. A compact canal design is more efficient: a 2-block-wide channel feeding a single Water Wheel produces the same power as a 4-block-wide channel with two wheels side-by-side, so use the narrowest canal that still maintains steady flow. Floodgate and controlled dam spillways help regulate flow and keep wheels running during changing seasons.

Water Wheels pair naturally with Gravity Batteries to store surplus energy. During wet periods a cluster of Water Wheels can lift weights into Gravity Batteries; during droughts the dropped weights supply power when wheels stop. Water management therefore serves three simultaneous roles in the game: providing drinkable water to beavers, supplying power via Water Wheels, and supporting irrigation and pumps. Because these systems are interdependent, water loss from droughts or contamination can disable multiple colony functions at once.

• The Water Wheel reacts only to horizontal flow; vertical flow does not turn it.
• The building dimension is 3x2; one tile equals 1 meter of water height. It stops working if water depth exceeds 2 meters.
• Use narrow, well-controlled canals for best efficiency; avoid partially blocking the inlet or outlet.
• Place Water Wheels on dam overflow points or natural rapids for reliable flow.
• Pair Water Wheel clusters with Gravity Batteries to store excess energy produced in wet seasons.
• Keep an eye on reservoir management (dams, levees, floodgates) because flow and water depth determine wheel operation; controlling upstream release prevents floods that could submerge wheels.