I dropped into Dam Battlegrounds with one objective: find the missing component before the mission timer chewed through our window. You hear the ping from your squad and feel the pressure — that small item suddenly matters. I learned fast that a single Water Pump can change how a run ends.
How to get an use a Water Pump in ARC Raiders
A municipal pump in my neighborhood hums through winter nights while I scout virtual pumps in-game.
I’ll be blunt: the Water Pump has climbed in demand since the Shrouded Sky update. It doesn’t power your guns, but it opens quest doors — you need one for the Unexpected Initiatives quest and for stage four of the Weather Monitor System project introduced in the same update. Submit one Water Pump there and you walk away with three Trailblazers, which shred larger ARCs such as the Bastion and the Bombardier.
The Water Pump is also a useful recycle source: breaking it down yields four Metal Parts and two Oil. You can sell it for 1,000 credits, but recycling usually returns more practical materials for upgrades and crafting.
Best locations for Water Pump in ARC Raiders
On one week of runs I hit every map and noted pickups as if I were ticking addresses off a route.
The Water Pump has no fixed spawn — it drops from random containers and loot spots. Your best bet is to favor Mechanical and Industrial-tagged areas during a run. The pump is common, but focused routing tilts luck in your favor: the Water Pump is a treasure-map pin that can reroute your whole run when you need it.
Dam Battlegrounds
- Controlled Access Zone
- Hydrophonic Dome Complex
- Water Treatment Control
- South Swamp Outpost — Field Depots often hide parts
Spaceport
- Fuel Control
- Jiangsu Warehouses
- Shipping Warehouse
- Container Storage
- Vehicle Maintenance
Maps rotate, loot tables shift with patches from Embark Studios, and platform differences (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation) sometimes change spawn density. Still, Dam Battlegrounds and Spaceport are consistently productive — Dam is a honeycomb of crates where every cell could hide the piece you need.
Where can I find a Water Pump in ARC Raiders?
You’ll find Water Pumps across all five maps through random container spawns; favor Mechanical and Industrial POIs. If you’re on PC via Steam or on console, prioritize loot routes that pass through the Fuel Control, Water Treatment, and Warehouse areas and sweep Field Depots on the way out.
How do I use a Water Pump in ARC Raiders?
The Water Pump serves three practical uses: submit it for quest progress, recycle it for materials, or sell it for credits. Recycle for four Metal Parts and two Oil. Submit one to the Weather Monitor System project to finish stage four and earn three Trailblazers — excellent for breaking down larger ARCs like Bastion and Bombardier. Selling nets 1,000 credits each, but unless you’re flush with parts, I usually recycle.
Should I prioritize finding one during a run?
If your squad needs quest progress or you’re farming materials, yes — prioritize it. The item’s demand spiked after Shrouded Sky, and missing a pump at the wrong moment can turn a winning run into a rushed extraction. Use ping discipline: call out Mechanical clusters and sweep them efficiently with teammates.
How I route my runs (short playbook)
I time my loop to hit two Mechanical POIs per deployment and always clear Field Depots on rotation.
Start at a high-density zone, sweep containers, then pivot to the secondary POI. If one pump drops, decide immediately: recycle for parts or stash for the Weather Monitor System quest. Keep inventory slots free for quick submissions or recycling at base.
I’ve tested this across platforms and with dozens of runs; the pattern holds. Tools like the in-game ping, squad chat, and notes on Steam community pages help coordinate fast sweeps. Moyens I/O’s screenshot (above) shows a reliable spawn area you can add to your route.
So, will you chase the pump on your next run and turn a small pickup into a decisive edge?