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Dam Battlegrounds
Celeste

Source of the Contamination

I'm not saying our water's been tampered with, but based on your samples, I can't rule out the possibility either. Would you return to the Dam and see what's wrong?

Key Takeaways

  • Given by Celeste and takes place in Dam Battlegrounds.
  • Includes 3 objectives focused on exploration.
  • Rewards 3 items upon completion.
  • Part of a multi-step quest chain from Celeste. Both a prerequisite quest and follow-up quests exist.

Objectives

1.
Reach the Water Treatment Building in The Dam
2.
Search for the Flood Spill Intake near the Swamp
3.
Investigate any suspicious objects

All objectives carry over between raids. You do not need to complete everything in a single run.

Walkthrough Tips

Search objectives have specific interaction zones you need to reach. Use your compass marker to navigate to the general area, then look for the highlighted interaction point. Some search areas may have multiple valid spots.

This quest is part of a chain. Completing the previous quest(s) in the series is required before this one becomes available from the trader.

Recommended Loadout

Light Weapon (Pistol or SMG)

Exploration quests have less direct combat but you still need something for self-defense. A lightweight weapon keeps your mobility high.

Smoke Grenades

Smoke grenades provide cover when crossing open ground or when you need to disengage from an unexpected fight near an objective.

Zipline

Ziplines speed up navigation between objectives spread across the map. Place them on high points to create shortcuts for return trips.

Step-by-Step Completion Guide

Follow these steps to complete all objectives for Source of the Contamination. Each step includes contextual advice based on the objective type.

1

Reach the Water Treatment Building in The Dam

Navigate to the marked location on your map. This is a waypoint objective. Once you arrive at the correct area, it will complete automatically or reveal the next step.

2

Search for the Flood Spill Intake near the Swamp

Follow your quest marker to the search area. The item or location will have a highlighted interaction prompt. Check multiple floors and rooms if the building has interior areas.

3

Investigate any suspicious objects

Approach the object or area and interact with it. Inspection objectives are usually straightforward but may trigger additional objectives or narrative events.

Map: Dam Battlegrounds

A massive hydroelectric dam complex and surrounding military installations. The dam structure itself creates dramatic elevation differences, with control rooms, staff areas, and maintenance tunnels providing interior objectives. ARC concentration is high, and the open dam top is a kill zone.

Stick to interior routes when possible. The dam top offers no cover from aerial threats. Staff rooms and control towers often require keys, so check surrounding areas for key spawns before heading to locked objectives.

28 total quests take place in Dam Battlegrounds. Browse all quests to find others on this map.

Quest Chain

This quest is part of a storyline from Celeste. Complete quests in order to unlock the next mission in the chain.

Source of the Contamination(current)

About Celeste

Intelligence & Research Specialist
22 quests total

Celeste gathers field intelligence on ARC behavior patterns, environmental threats, and resource locations. Her missions often involve reconnaissance, data collection, and investigating unusual ARC activity. She tracks everything from contamination sources to ARC signal anomalies. Expect her quests to send you into dangerous territory for critical information.

Visit the Traders page to see all available traders and their inventories.

Rewards

steel springx5

steel spring

duct tape recipex5

duct tape recipe

mod components

mod components

Hover over items for detailed stats. Rewards are received upon turning in the completed quest.

Quick Reference

Trader
Celeste
Map
Dam Battlegrounds
Objectives
3
Rewards
3 items
Chain Position
Sequel

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start the Source of the Contamination quest?

You need to complete "Water Troubles" first. After turning in the prerequisite quest, speak with Celeste in Speranza to pick up Source of the Contamination.

What are the rewards for completing Source of the Contamination?

You receive 3 items as rewards upon turning in the completed quest to Celeste. Check the rewards section above for the full item list and quantities.

Where does Source of the Contamination take place?

Source of the Contamination objectives are located in Dam Battlegrounds. Use the in-game quest tracker to navigate to each objective location once you deploy to the correct map.

What quests unlock after Source of the Contamination?

Completing Source of the Contamination unlocks 1 follow-up quest: "Switching the Supply". Check with the relevant traders in Speranza after turning in this quest.