DrainSim looks simple at first. You see water, mud, and drains… and your job is basically to clean the mess. But once you jump into a mission, you quickly realize the game expects you to actually think like someone fixing a drainage system. Pumps need power, barriers need water pressure, and sometimes the problem isn’t the drain — it’s the dirt blocking the flow.
This guide walks through the basics in a practical way: how to buy tools, what every item does, how barriers actually work, and a full Forest Road walkthrough so you don’t get stuck staring at a flooded street wondering what went wrong.
DrainSim Beginner Guide Wiki – How to Buy Tools, Use Items
Before starting a mission in DrainSim, you need to prepare your equipment. The game won’t automatically give you every tool, so knowing where to grab them is the first step.
Here’s the simple process:
- Select a mission from the mission board.
- When you load into the mission area (before actually starting), look for “$SHOP$”.
- Open the shop and buy the tools you want.
- Return to the Mission Selection screen.
- On the left side under Equipment Selection, click the plus icon to add tools to your vehicle.
- Start the mission.
Think of your vehicle as your toolbox on wheels. If you forget something important like a pump or shovel, you’ll feel it halfway through the job.
Tools in DrainSim
Some tools look simple, but they’re surprisingly useful when used correctly. Understanding their small mechanics makes the game much easier.
The Rake
The rake is mostly used for removing dirt clumps covering drains.
Primary action removes debris sitting directly on top of drains. Secondary action scrapes the ground surface. This might not sound useful, but it’s actually a clever mechanic — scraping the ground helps reveal bubbles and floating leaves, which are visual hints showing where drains are hidden under murky water.
When water is dark and visibility is terrible, the rake becomes a detective tool.
The Bucket
A bucket is the most basic way to move water manually.
Secondary action fills the bucket with water depending on the depth. Primary action pours the water somewhere else.
You’ll mainly use this for small cleanup tasks or when pumps would be overkill.
The Shovel
The shovel handles dirt blockages.
Primary action digs through piles of dirt that block water flow. Many levels rely on this mechanic — sometimes the drain is perfectly fine, but water can’t reach it because dirt is stopping the current.
If water isn’t moving, check the ground first.
Pipe Wrench
Leaking pipes are another common issue.
Using the primary action tightens loose pipes. The trick is to position the wrench at the pipe edge, tighten it, reposition, then tighten again until the leak stops.
It’s basically a mini repair job inside the mission.
Squeegee
This tool pushes water across surfaces.
Primary action sends a small wave of water forward for a few seconds. Secondary action continuously pushes water as you walk.
It’s surprisingly useful when you need to guide water toward a drain without setting up pumps.
Water Vacuum
The vacuum is a portable water removal tool.
Primary action sucks water into the tank. Secondary action dumps the stored water out.
It’s perfect for clearing small pools after the main drainage is done.
Work Light
DrainSim levels can get dark, especially underground or during nighttime missions.
Place the light using the primary action, then click it again to turn it on. The direction you’re facing when placing it determines where the light shines.
Small detail, but good lighting makes finding drains much easier.
Power Equipment
Once you reach larger flooding problems, manual tools won’t cut it anymore. That’s when the pump system becomes essential.
Generator
The generator powers your pumps.
Place it on solid ground using the primary action, then activate it using the interaction key. The generator has two power sockets, which means you can run two cables at the same time.
Power Cable
The cable connects generators to pumps.
Use the primary mouse button to link the generator outlet to a pump. The cable has unlimited uses, so once you buy it, you can reuse it across missions.
Pump Types and Power Levels
Pumps remove water through attached pipes. Each version has different strength and pipe length.
Base Pump
- Pump power: 10
- Pipe length: Short
- Best for small water areas.
MK2 Pump
- Pump power: 20
- Pipe length: Medium
- Good for moderate drainage tasks.
MK3 Pump
- Pump power: 10
- Pipe length: Long
- Ideal when distance matters more than raw power.
MK4 Pump
- Pump power: 40
- Pipe length: Extremely long
- The strongest pump available for massive water removal.
To use a pump:
- Place it in water.
- Connect it to the generator using cables.
- Attach its pipe.
- Turn it on.
Once powered, it starts draining water automatically.
Barriers
Barriers confuse a lot of new players because they don’t work like normal walls.
A barrier is actually an inflatable water wall. Instead of blocking water immediately, it needs to fill with water first using a pump or hydrant.
Once filled, it becomes strong enough to redirect water flow.
Just remember one thing:
When barriers empty later, they release a lot of water back into the area, so plan where it goes.
Single Barrier Method
The simplest setup:
- Gather a pump, cable, generator, and barrier.
- Place the pump in water and power it.
- Place the barrier.
- Connect the barrier to a pump or hydrant.
- Wait for it to fill.
Once full, the barrier will block or redirect water flow.
Connected Barriers (Two Pump Method)
This method is used for larger blockades.
- Place two pumps in water.
- Power them with the generator.
- Place barriers side-by-side.
- Fill both barriers using pumps or hydrants.
- Wait for expansion.
Now you have a larger wall controlling water movement.
Connected Barriers (Single Pump Method)
This is a more efficient approach.
- Place one barrier and fill it.
- Align the second barrier beside the first.
- Fill the second barrier.
Once both expand, they create a clean water block line.
Forest Road Walkthrough
This level is where many players get stuck the first time. The layout isn’t difficult, but the order you do things in matters.
Recommended Items
- 1 Bucket
- 1 Water Vacuum
- 1 Generator
- 1 Cable
- 2 Barriers
- 2 MK3 Pumps
- 1 Shovel
Technically you can do it in any order, but Street 2 should be done first. Otherwise, you might accidentally trap water and soft-lock the level.
Street 1
Start by setting up your generator on the dirt hill.
Place both MK3 pumps inside the water pipes across the dirt. Connect them to the generator with cables and turn them on.
Once the pumps drain most of the water, finish cleaning the remaining puddles with the bucket or vacuum.
That’s it. Street 1 is basically a warm-up.
Street 2
Street 2 requires a bit more attention.
First, dig the dirt blocking the water flow using the shovel. If you press Tab, you can highlight dirt hidden under water.
While the area begins draining, place your pumps with the generator to speed up the process.
Once the water drops slightly, look around for the large drain. The easiest way to find it is by watching for bubbles and floating leaves.
When the water is low enough, dig the drain open.
Now place your barriers near the street edge to redirect water toward the large drain. It might take some time because barriers expand slowly.
After the flow is properly redirected, clean up the remaining water using pumps, bucket, and vacuum.
Once the street is dry, the mission is complete.