Quick Answer
- Tunnel entrance: go to the Red Lake Balcony area and look east of the Control Tower at the base of the water-treatment zone.
- Inside: follow the tunnel to the room with multiple pipes and a pool of water.
- Target: use the partially submerged pipe on the left; a rainbow sheen on the water above it is the best confirmation cue.
- Complete all steps in one round, but extraction is not required after sampling.
Water Troubles Requirements
The most reliable prerequisite chain is The Root of the Matter plus After Rain Comes. Deploy to Dam Battlegrounds and finish the full objective chain in one round.
Nothing needs to be carried in or extracted, so a free loadout is the safest choice. The tunnel is often quieter than the major surface POIs, but stay alert on the approach through the Red Lake area.
Where to Find the Flood Access Tunnel
The Flood Access Tunnel sits beneath the Red Lake Balcony area in the centre-east portion of Dam Battlegrounds. Use the Control Tower as the clearest landmark and look east at the base of the water-treatment area for the giant open pipe mouth.
- Reach the Red Lake Balcony area near the dam walls.
- Find the Control Tower building and move east toward the lower water-treatment level.
- Enter the giant open tunnel mouth at the base of the area.
Once you are in the correct Red Lake area, the tunnel entrance itself is hard to miss.
Where to Find the Water Supply Intake
The water supply intake is deeper inside the tunnel in a room with multiple pipes and a pool of water. Follow the linear tunnel until you reach that machinery room instead of stopping near the entrance.
- Follow the tunnel inward until it opens into the pipe room.
- Look to the left for a pipe that is partially submerged in the water.
- Check the water surface for a rainbow sheen above the pipe; that colour effect is the best confirmation that you have the correct intake.
How to Sample the Water
Approach the partially submerged pipe and complete the sample interaction. Once the sample registers, the quest is complete even if you do not survive the raid.
- Move to the submerged pipe beneath the rainbow sheen.
- Use the sample prompt and wait for the objective to update.
- Extract only if you want to keep loot; extraction is not part of the quest requirement.
Water Troubles Rewards
| Reward | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3x Mechanical Components | Crafting material | Quest reward quantity. |
| 3x Simple Gun Parts | Crafting material | Quest reward quantity. |
| 3x Steel Spring | Crafting material | Quest reward quantity. |
The main reason to clear Water Troubles early is progression through Celeste's quest chain rather than the material payout alone.
Other Quests in This Part of Dam Battlegrounds
Source of the Contamination uses the Water Treatment Building and Flood Spill Intake in the same broader area, so it is a natural quest to pair with Water Troubles. Apricots and Prickly Pears used for Scrappy upgrades can also be found nearby, giving you another reason to sweep the area before leaving.
What Comes After Water Troubles
A specific follow-up is not firmly established here. After turning Water Troubles in, return to Celeste and check the next quest that becomes available in her chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to extract with the water sample?
No. Water Troubles completes when the sample interaction registers, so you do not need to survive or carry the sample out.
Where is the Flood Access Tunnel in ARC Raiders?
It is beneath the Red Lake Balcony area on Dam Battlegrounds. Use the Control Tower as a landmark and look east at the base of the water-treatment area for the giant open tunnel mouth.
How do you spot the right pipe?
Look for the partially submerged pipe on the left side of the interior pipe room. A rainbow sheen on the water above it is the clearest confirmation cue.
Do you have to do Water Troubles in one raid?
Yes. The three objectives need to be completed in the same round.
How do you unlock Water Troubles?
The strongest prerequisite chain is The Root of the Matter and After Rain Comes.