Filling water containers

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), making money through simple yet effective methods is a popular pursuit for players of all levels, and filling water containers stands out as a reliable, low-skill option. This method involves collecting empty containers like vials, jugs, or buckets, filling them with water from a nearby source, and selling the filled products for profit on the Grand Exchange or to other players. While it may not yield millions of GP per hour, it’s an accessible approach for new players or those looking for a low-effort grind, requiring minimal investment and offering steady returns. Below, we’ll dive into the details of each step—collecting empty containers, finding a water source, filling containers with water, and selling them—complete with strategies, locations, and profit insights to maximize your GP gains.

Collecting Empty Containers

Collecting empty containers is the foundational step in this money-making method, as your profit hinges on acquiring these items efficiently and at the lowest possible cost. The most common containers in OSRS for this method are vials, jugs, and buckets, all of which can be filled with water and sold for a markup. Each type has its own acquisition methods, availability, and cost considerations, making it essential to choose wisely based on your budget and goals.

Types of Empty Containers

• Vials: Small glass containers often dropped by monsters or bought from shops.
• Jugs: Larger vessels available from general stores or as drops.
• Buckets: Versatile items found in many locations or purchased cheaply.

Methods to Collect Empty Containers

1. Purchasing from Shops: General stores, like the one in Lumbridge or Varrock, sell jugs and buckets for a few GP each, while Herblore shops (e.g., Taverley) stock vials. Buying in bulk from shops with high stock, such as the general store in Falador, can save time.
2. Monster Drops: Killing low-level monsters like imps or men/women often yields jugs and vials. For buckets, goblins or cows (in areas like Lumbridge) are decent sources.
3. Player Trading: Check the Grand Exchange for bulk deals on empty containers. Vials might cost around 2-5 GP each, jugs 1-3 GP, and buckets 5-10 GP, depending on market trends.
4. Scavenging: Explore spawn points—buckets respawn in places like the Lumbridge castle basement, while jugs appear in the Cooking Guild or Falador houses.

Best Locations for Collection

• Lumbridge: Buckets spawn in the cellar, and the general store sells jugs.
• Varrock: General store for jugs and proximity to GE for vials.
• Taverley: Herblore shop for vials in bulk.

Efficiency Tips

• Use a teleport method (e.g., Lumbridge Home Teleport) to hop between shops or spawn points.
• Bring a small cash stack (e.g., 10K GP) to buy in bulk and avoid multiple trips.
• If scavenging, prioritize areas with multiple spawns or low player traffic to minimize competition.

Collecting empty containers can be tedious, but with a bit of planning—say, gathering 500 vials in an hour from shops and drops—you’ll have enough stock to keep the process rolling. The key is balancing time spent collecting with the cost of buying outright, as every GP saved boosts your profit margin.

Finding a Water Source

Once you’ve stockpiled empty containers, the next step is locating a water source to fill them, a task that sounds simple but benefits from strategic planning to maximize efficiency. In OSRS, water sources are plentiful, marked by a faucet icon on the minimap, and range from fountains to pumps to wells. Your choice of location can drastically affect how quickly you fill your inventory, impacting your hourly GP gains.

Common Water Sources

• Fountains: Found in towns like Falador and Varrock; decorative but functional.
• Water Pumps: Common in rural areas like Lumbridge and Draynor Village.
• Sinks: Inside buildings, such as the Lumbridge castle kitchen.
• Wells: Scattered across the map, often in less busy spots like Edgeville.

Best Water Source Locations

Accessibility Considerations

• Free-to-Play (F2P): Lumbridge and Varrock are ideal due to proximity to banks and teleports.
• Members (P2P): Locations like the Cooking Guild (with a chef’s hat) or Ardougne offer sinks and pumps near banks, cutting travel time.
• Teleport Options: Use Amulet of Glory (Edgeville) or Varrock Teleport to reach water sources quickly.

Efficiency Tips

• Stand directly next to the water source to avoid extra clicks.
• Fill containers in bulk (e.g., a full inventory of 28 buckets) to minimize trips.
• Avoid peak hours in busy areas like Lumbridge to reduce lag or competition.

Finding the right water source is about minimizing downtime. For example, the Edgeville well, just steps from a bank, lets you fill 28 vials in under a minute, while a crowded Lumbridge pump might slow you down. Test a few spots to see what fits your rhythm—proximity to a bank and low player traffic are your best friends here.

Filling Containers with Water

With containers in hand and a water source chosen, filling them with water is the core of this method, transforming cheap empties into sellable goods. This step is straightforward but repetitive, requiring patience and a focus on optimizing your clicks and banking runs. Each container type has a slightly different fill time and profit potential, so understanding the mechanics can help you scale your efforts.

How to Fill Containers

• Right-click the water source and select “Use” (e.g., “Use Fountain”).
• Ensure your empty containers are in your inventory—they’ll fill automatically one by one.
• Wait for the animation and sound cue (a splash) to confirm each fill.

Container Fill Times

• Vials: Fastest, about 1-2 seconds per fill.
• Jugs: Moderate, around 2-3 seconds.
• Buckets: Slowest, roughly 3-4 seconds, due to larger capacity.

Profit Potential per Container

Maximizing Efficiency

• Fill a full inventory (28 items) before banking to cut down on trips.
• Use shift-click (if enabled in settings) to drop or bank items faster.
• Position your camera so the water source and your character align for quick clicks.

Challenges and Solutions

• Crowded Areas: Switch worlds if other players clog your spot.
• Inventory Management: Keep only containers and a teleport item to avoid clutter.
• Fatigue: Break the monotony by chatting or watching something on a second screen.

Filling containers is where the grind happens—expect to process 500-600 vials per hour at a steady pace, netting 2-3K GP profit after costs, or scale up to buckets for 10-12K GP per hour with more effort. It’s not glamorous, but the steady rhythm can be oddly satisfying once you hit your stride.

Selling Filled Containers

The final step—selling your filled containers—turns your labor into GP, and doing it right can make or break your profits. The Grand Exchange is your primary marketplace, though niche opportunities like trading with other players exist. Timing, pricing, and volume all play a role in how much you walk away with.

Where to Sell

• Grand Exchange (GE): Located in Varrock, the go-to spot for bulk sales.
• Player Trading: Sell to crafters or cooks in bulk (e.g., vials to herblorists).
• Specialty Shops: Some stores (like the one in Taverley) buy filled vials, but at lower rates.

Pricing Strategy

• Vials of Water: Sell at 5-10 GP each, undercutting if the market’s slow.
• Jugs of Water: Aim for 5-15 GP, depending on demand from cooks.
• Buckets of Water: Fetch 20-30 GP, popular for farming or mixing.

Market Trends

• High Demand: Vials spike during Herblore training events; buckets rise with farming updates.
• Low Demand: Overstocked items may sit unsold—check GE history before flooding the market.

Selling Tips

• List items in batches (e.g., 100 vials) to avoid constant re-listing.
• Use GE price checker to set competitive prices—aim for a quick sale over max profit.
• Bank filled containers until you have a large stock (e.g., 1,000 units) for a big payout.

Profit Breakdown (Per Hour)

Selling is where patience pays off—dumping 1K buckets of water at 20 GP each nets you 20K GP in one go, while vials offer smaller but faster returns. Watch the market, adjust prices, and enjoy the GP stacking up as your inventory clears.

Conclusion

Filling water containers in OSRS is a humble but effective money-making method, perfect for players seeking a low-barrier entry to wealth-building. Collecting empty containers sets the stage, finding a water source keeps you moving, filling them turns effort into product, and selling locks in the profit. With potential earnings ranging from 1.5K to 8K GP per hour, it’s a steady grind that scales with your ambition—whether you’re a newbie with vials or a veteran hauling buckets. So grab your containers, find a pump, and start splashing your way to a fuller coin pouch!