The Water Troubles quest in ARC Raiders might sound simple at first—just collect a water sample—but the process takes you deep beneath the Dam Battlegrounds and straight into one of the game’s more atmospheric exploration zones. Offered by Celeste, this mission connects to a chain of water-related objectives that help uncover what’s poisoning the region’s supply. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough to help you complete it.
Quest Overview
Your objective is straightforward but must be done within a single round. If you extract early, you’ll lose progress and have to start over. The tasks are:
- Locate the Flood Access Tunnel under the Red Lakes Balcony.
- Find the intake to the District’s Water Supply.
- Sample the water to complete the mission.
Where to Start the Water Troubles Quest
The mission begins when you pick it up from Celeste at Speranza. Once it’s active, deploy to the Dam Battlegrounds. You’ll want to focus on the Red Lakes area, located on the southeastern side of the map.
From the Research & Administration point of interest, move southeast until you find a stairwell that leads underground. Descend the stairs and use the zipline at the bottom to reach the lower flood levels.
Locating the Flood Access Tunnel
The Flood Access Tunnel is positioned on the right side of the Red Lakes, below the Control Tower POI. You can approach it from above by sliding down the slopes or navigate on foot through the lower paths.
Once you spot a massive concrete wall with a wide circular opening, you’ve found the tunnel entrance. A quest progression marker will confirm you’re in the right spot.
Finding the Intake and Sampling the Water
Enter the tunnel and follow the linear path until you reach a murky underground pool. You’ll see a metal pipe on the left wall—this is your target.
Interact with the pipe to collect the water sample. This completes the main objective, but make sure not to leave early or die before extraction, as doing so can invalidate your progress.
After collecting the sample, you’ll need to return to Speranza to hand it over. The Red Lakes Balcony Lift nearby offers a quick extraction point, though it’s frequently patrolled by ARC units and other raiders scavenging near the Testing Annex. Stealth and quick movement will help you escape safely.
Quest Rewards
Completing the Water Troubles quest grants:
| Reward Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Components | 3 |
| Simple Gun Parts | 3 |
| Steel Springs | 3 |
These parts are valuable for crafting and upgrading weapons, making this quest a must-do if you’re preparing for tougher missions later in the game.
Pro Tip for players
While you’re exploring the Dam Battlegrounds, keep an eye out for Apricot Trees and Prickly Pears near the Raider Hatch area. Both are used in upgrades for Scrappy the Chicken, so it’s worth harvesting them while you’re in the region.
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This lets you knock out two tasks—quest progress and resource gathering—in one efficient raid. Play Now!
