In Arc Raiders, not every quest is about combat or risky extractions. Source of the Contamination is a straightforward investigation mission that can be completed entirely within Dam Battlegrounds, making it ideal to combine with normal scavenging runs.
This guide shows you exactly where to go, what to interact with, and what to expect.
Source of the Contamination – Quest Overview
- Quest Giver: Celeste
- Map: Dam Battlegrounds
- Extraction Required: ❌ No
- Single Run Required: ✅ Yes
This quest focuses on identifying the source of polluted water near the dam’s treatment facilities.
Quest Prerequisites
Before this quest becomes available, you must complete Celeste’s earlier missions, including:
- Water Troubles
- Root of the Matter
- Untended Garden
Once unlocked:
- Visit Celeste in the Raider Den
- Open the Quests tab
- And Accept Source of the Contamination quest
Quest Objectives
- Reach the Water Treatment Building
- Search for the Flood Spill Intake near the swamp
- Investigate the suspicious object
All objectives must be completed in one run, but no extraction is required.
Reach the Water Treatment Building
Load into Dam Battlegrounds.
Your first destination is:
- The Water Treatment Control area
- Located near the center of the map
- Just south of the Central Swamp Lift
Depending on your spawn, you may pass through heavily patrolled zones. If possible:
- avoid unnecessary fights
- move efficiently toward the objective
- treat this as a positioning quest, not a combat one
Find the Flood Spill Intake Near the Swamp
At the northern end of the Water Treatment Control area, look for:
- a drainage zone
- shallow pooled water
- a channel leading outward toward the swamp
This area is known as the Flood Spill Intake.
Move into the drainage channel and follow it to the end.
Investigate the Suspicious Object
At the end of the Flood Spill Intake, you’ll find:
- a rusted barrel
- leaking iridescent fluid into the water
Approach the barrel and interact with it to investigate and defuse the suspicious object.
Once this interaction is complete:
- the final objective will be marked as finished
- quest progress is saved immediately
⚠️ Important:
Even if you are knocked out afterward, the quest still counts as completed.
Turn in the Quest
After completing all objectives:
- return to Speranza
- open the Traders menu
- hand in the quest to Celeste
No extraction item is required.
Source of the Contamination – Quest Rewards
Completing this quest rewards you with:
- Mod Components ×1
- Duct Tape ×5
- Steel Spring ×5
Solid crafting materials, especially useful early to mid progression.
🎥 Source of the Contamination – Quest Walkthrough (Video)
Prefer seeing it done instead of reading every step?
I recorded a sub-3 minute gameplay run of the Source of the Contamination quest using GG Moments, showing:
- the exact route to the Water Treatment Building
- the Flood Spill Intake location
- where to find and interact with the suspicious barrel
No commentary fluff, no cuts — just the objective, start to finish.
👉 Watch the full quest walkthrough below:
Related Arc Raiders Guides (Internal Links)
You can link this guide to:
- Arc Raiders: Clean Dream Quest Guide
- Arc Raiders: Switching the Supply Quest Guide
- Arc Raiders: Echoes of Victory Ridge Quest Guide
- Arc Raiders: Eyes in the Sky Quest Guide
- Arc Raiders Quests Hub
Optional:
