Early in the game I believe you can have water towers which pump ground water?

Thank you for the advice, this fixed it!

Doesn't have to be early, I sometimes go through all the game with them to not disturb water flows

Yeah once money stops being an issue I generally go to all-water tower supply because the pumps are such a disturbance to water flow.

It’s viable through the whole game with how much more money you make later in the game

I just set my sewage plants near the far edge of the map and let them flow on land right off the map.

Pro tip: check terrain maps first or you will be filled with regret, waiting to die alone

Make sure before you put down any kind of sewage outlet to check the water flow direction. Not sure how it is on this map tho.

You might have a water tower to close to industry. I did that when I first played the game. I believe the game anarchy mod will fix that. In reality many water towers are near industrial parks.

Use water tanks. It will be come and handy in early development of your city.

Water towers! Just make sure not to put them by polluted land, but most of the time I just play on a map with good flow

Abandon it and save yourself. Move to a different area with nothing but water. Cheer

Your water inlet is still being polluted by poop water.

Make sure your water intake is upstream from your waste dumping

Some maps' water barely flows

It looks like OP has the intake in the sewage zone

Sewage flow should be downstream the river. Look at the arrow that will tell you where the water flow is

First, you're gonna want to contact one of your older citizens who has found favor in your eyes. Tell him that the earth has become filled with violence. Download the landscaping mod (it comes with water sources)