The Six Water Grades, From Lowest to Highest
Probably Stolen water quality grades describe very different starting points for your trading operation. From lowest to highest, the documented player guide describes Gutterflow, Rustwater, Ghostwater, Base, High Quality, and Pure. Knowing that order helps you judge a seller's offer and decide how much processing a batch needs.
The descriptions below draw on recorded playtest player experience and community reports. The official Probably Stolen Demo page confirms the Water Merchant's testing and purification start, but this guide does not assume a universal set of numeric cutoffs across every build.
| Grade | Place in the quality order | Practical meaning in the documented trading loop |
|---|---|---|
| Gutterflow | Lowest | Very dirty input requiring substantial improvement |
| Rustwater | Above Gutterflow | Still low-grade input rather than finished premium stock |
| Ghostwater | Above Rustwater | A potential starting point for further purification |
| Base | Above Ghostwater | A practical trading grade that can also be improved |
| High Quality | Above Base | A higher-grade sale option without necessarily chasing Pure |
| Pure | Highest | The cleanest target, requiring an appropriate processing setup |
The recorded guide discusses the lower grades as processing inputs and uses Base and High Quality in ordinary trading. That is a business approach, not proof that no customer in any circumstance accepts a lower grade.
A Printed Label Is Not the Tested Grade
A container's label declares a grade. Testing tells you what the water actually contains. Those can disagree.
Use an individual testing strip on the container, or apply AquaScan for a more detailed reading. The recorded guide notes that Ghostwater and Base can look similar, so bottle color is not a dependable grade check.
AquaScan also separates the overall quality reading from the types of contaminants present. Two batches that need improvement may require different tools because one contains microbes while another still has heavy metals or chemicals.
After processing, test the water again before relabeling it. Raising the declared grade does not remove contamination. Accurate labeling also helps you keep finished stock separate from batches that still need work.
Choose a Grade Your Setup Can Reach and Sell
The highest grade is not automatically the best target for every batch. The recorded water-trading guide uses Base and High Quality water as useful sale stock.
Community reports distinguish a powered purifier's quality ceiling from its processing performance. If the ceiling is below the grade you want, simply waiting longer may not solve the problem.
Processing can also slow as water becomes cleaner. The final improvement toward Pure can take longer than an early step up from much dirtier input. Compare that extra time with the value of selling the current batch and freeing capacity.
Quick tools have limits too. UV removes microbes, ordinary pitcher filtration has its own contaminant scope, and the documented MicroHydraTech use improves low-grade water toward Base. None should be treated as a universal “make Pure” action.
Finally, consider packaging and budgets. High-value water still needs a suitable container and a buyer who can afford the offer. A lower finished grade sold promptly can support the shop better than premium inventory that sits unsold through rent day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest water grade?
Pure is the highest grade in the documented six-level order.
What is the order below Pure?
High Quality, Base, Ghostwater, Rustwater, and Gutterflow, descending from better to worse.
Can I tell the grade just by looking at the water?
Do not rely on appearance. The player guide specifically notes that Ghostwater and Base look similar; use a strip or AquaScan.
Does changing the label improve quality?
No. The label is a claim about the contents. Purify and retest the batch, then make the label match the result.