---
name: "surfaceIsWater"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Positions"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": null, "effect": null, "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/surfaceIsWater
revid: 379477
updated: 2026-10-31T00:11:44Z
---

# surfaceIsWater

*Command · Positions · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Operation Flashpoint: Elite v1.00*

## Description

Returns whether there is water at given position. In Arma 3, it also detects pond objects, but only if they are loaded in memory (normally only true if the objects are within the [object view distance](../commands/setObjectViewDistance.md))

## Syntax

```sqf
surfaceIsWater position
```

**Parameters:**

- `position`: [Position2D](../topics/Position.md#introduction) or [Position3D](../topics/Position.md#introduction) - when using [Position3D](../topics/Position.md#introduction) Z will be ignored

**Returns:** [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
private _result = surfaceIsWater [1000, 3000];
```

### Example 2

```sqf
_isWater = surfaceIsWater position player;
```

## See also

[surfaceType](../commands/surfaceType.md) · [surfaceNormal](../commands/surfaceNormal.md) · [nearRoads](../commands/nearRoads.md) · [roadsConnectedTo](../commands/roadsConnectedTo.md) · [roadAt](../commands/roadAt.md) · [isOnRoad](../commands/isOnRoad.md)

## Community notes

**Osmo** — 2012-05-04

Does not work with inland water. Works only with sea water.

---

**Leopard20** — 2021-07-19

The above note is not true in Arma 3. The command **does detect pond objects** and will return true if there is a pond object at that position. However, the object must have been loaded in memory (normally only true if the object is within the object view distance)

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — surfaceIsWater](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/surfaceIsWater) (revision 379477).</sub>