Salt Curse

Described by the colonists as a curse that lays over the land - The Salt Curse is one of the greatest dangers of the New World. Every drop of rain, every flowing stream, and even conjured water... Is contaminated by salt, and will drive a man insane rather than hydrating him. The camps of the New World are reliant on imported water - barrels, sealed with runic sigils that preserve it from contamination until cracked open. Horses and mounts are highly limited in the New World due to how much water they consume.

It is known that the Scales are unable to drink salt water, much like the Europeans, and slowly sources of drinkable water are being discovered, although typically in very small quantities.