Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Infinite Water Source in Minecraft: How to Make One
Dig a 2 by 2 hole, or a 3 by 1 line, and pour water into two opposite corners: the gaps become new source blocks, so you can fill buckets from it forever. A new water source forms wherever flowing water touches two source blocks side by side while resting on a solid block or another source. It does not work in the Nether.
What shapes work?
| Shape | How | Refills |
|---|---|---|
| 2 by 2 | Water in two diagonal corners | Every block |
| 3 by 1 | Water at both ends | The middle block |
| L-shape | Water at both ends of the L | The corner |
The new source needs a solid block or water under it, and on Java the water_source_conversion game rule must be on (it is by default).
Why make one?
- Endless water for farms, concrete and putting out fires; see crop farming.
- Filling cauldrons and bottles for brewing; see cauldrons.
- Water for a base or garden without walking to a lake.
- A dispenser with buckets can fill and empty water on its own; see dispensers.
How does water flow?
Water spreads 7 blocks sideways on flat ground and falls forever until something stops it, at 4 blocks per second. Flowing water pushes mobs and items, which is the base of most item and mob farms. On Java, lava only does this if the lava_source_conversion game rule is turned on.
Can you place water in the Nether?
No: it evaporates instantly, except inside a cauldron. Ice broken in the Nether also leaves nothing. See the Nether. Snowy biomes turn exposed water into ice; see ice types.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make infinite water?
Put water in two opposite corners of a 2x2 hole.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.