How to complete Operation Aquarius Part 1 quest in Escape from Tarkov

Operation Aquarius, Part One is an early task in Escape from Tarkov. After completing the Therapist’s earlier tasks, she’ll let you in on some information: She’s found the source of the water contamination, but until it’s fixed, she needs clean water.

Fortunately, she received a tip that people stockpiled a heap of the water near the Dorms on Customs. It’s up to you to find the stockpile and report on its location. Here’s how to complete Operation Aquarius Part One in Escape from Tarkov.

Escape from Tarkov mission guide: Operation Aquarius Part 1

There are two tasks you’ll need to do to complete Operation Aquarius Part One in Escape from Tarkov:

• Locate the water hidden inside of the dorms on Customs.
• Survive and extract from the location.

The task mentions the dorms, but you’re actually looking for a specific room inside the dorm buildings—Room 206 in the building to the right as you enter the area (from the road). Before you begin, you’ll need the Dorm Room 206 Key, which you can barter for with the Therapist via the trading menu. It’ll cost you seven Pile of Meds for the key.

Alternatively, you can try your luck during a Customs raid and pick up a key yourself. You’ll find them on dead bodies or Scavs near the Dorms: I found my key in a jacket on the first floor of the Dorms buildings, so you’ll need to loot a little to find it.

Locate the water hidden in Room 206

Drop into Customs, then head to the Dorms. You’ll want to take the main road running east-to-west out in the woods. If approaching from the trailer park, keep to the main road over the bridge and keep the city to your right. A road will turn off into the woods, but not before it stops at two small buildings—these are the dorms.

You’ll want to go right to the smaller building at the end of the road, then up to the second floor. Just to the left of the stairwell will be Room 206, with the room number to the top right and the door closed by a cage. The key will open this cage, and you can enter the room.

Survive and extract

You don’t actually need to pick up the water here, but if you’re thirsty, by all means! Walking into the center of the room should complete the main part of the task, but you aren’t done yet.

To complete the mission, you’ll need to exfil from Customs. I ended up heading back to the Trailer Park extraction point, which made for quite a trek. If you can start a campfire with something in your inventory, you can head to the shoreline of the river just west of the Dorms and call in the Smuggler’s Boat instead.

Rewards

Completing Operation Aquarius Part One will reward you with Therapist reputation, 14,000 Roubles, five Bottles of Water, and a Water Filter.