diff --git a/src/game/WorldHandlers/GridMap.cpp b/src/game/WorldHandlers/GridMap.cpp
index 73a1d8337..b335527ac 100644
--- a/src/game/WorldHandlers/GridMap.cpp
+++ b/src/game/WorldHandlers/GridMap.cpp
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ GridMapLiquidStatus TerrainInfo::getLiquidStatus(float x, float y, float z,
     const world::terrain::Column column =
         ColumnAt(x, y, z + FLOOR_BURIED_LIFT, z - FLOOR_SEARCH_DOWN);
 
-    const auto liquid = column.HighestLiquid();
+    const auto liquid = column.LiquidFor(z);
     if (!liquid || !liquid->liquidEntry)
     {
         return LIQUID_MAP_NO_WATER;
diff --git a/src/shared/terrain/Column.hpp b/src/shared/terrain/Column.hpp
index 3f9abd330..fea6deb84 100644
--- a/src/shared/terrain/Column.hpp
+++ b/src/shared/terrain/Column.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ namespace world::terrain
         LiquidKind liquid = LiquidKind::None;
         uint16_t liquidEntry = 0;
         bool deep = false;
+        std::optional<float> terrainZ;   ///< see LiquidInfo::terrainZ
 
         bool Solid() const { return kind != SurfaceKind::Liquid; }
 
@@ -39,10 +40,15 @@ namespace world::terrain
             info.kind = liquid;
             info.entry = liquidEntry;
             info.deep = deep;
+            info.terrainZ = terrainZ;
             return info;
         }
     };
 
+    /// How far under its ADT terrain a point may be and still be in that tile's
+    /// liquid.
+    constexpr float ADT_LIQUID_BURIED_LIMIT = 2.0f;
+
     class Column
     {
         public:
@@ -62,6 +68,7 @@ namespace world::terrain
                 s.liquid = info.kind;
                 s.liquidEntry = info.entry;
                 s.deep = info.deep;
+                s.terrainZ = info.terrainZ;
                 m_surfaces.push_back(s);
             }
 
@@ -131,6 +138,33 @@ namespace world::terrain
                 return best;
             }
 
+            /// The liquid a point at z is in, under or over: the highest one
+            /// that reaches it. An ADT liquid does not reach a point when it
+            /// lies under its own terrain, or the point is more than
+            /// ADT_LIQUID_BURIED_LIMIT under that terrain -- a cave, or a city
+            /// built below the surface (the Undercity under Tirisfal) -- as the
+            /// reference GridMap::getLiquidStatus had it.
+            std::optional<Surface> LiquidFor(float z) const
+            {
+                std::optional<Surface> best;
+                for (const Surface& s : m_surfaces)
+                {
+                    if (s.kind != SurfaceKind::Liquid ||
+                        (best && s.z <= best->z))
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    if (s.terrainZ &&
+                        (s.z < *s.terrainZ ||
+                         z < *s.terrainZ - ADT_LIQUID_BURIED_LIMIT))
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    best = s;
+                }
+                return best;
+            }
+
         private:
             std::vector<Surface> m_surfaces;
     };
diff --git a/src/shared/terrain/FusedTerrain.cpp b/src/shared/terrain/FusedTerrain.cpp
index 437334d75..7db4fe313 100644
--- a/src/shared/terrain/FusedTerrain.cpp
+++ b/src/shared/terrain/FusedTerrain.cpp
@@ -345,6 +345,9 @@ namespace world::terrain
         {
             if (auto adt = tile->LiquidAt(x, y))
             {
+                // The terrain it lies on: a point buried under that terrain is
+                // not in it (Column::LiquidFor), however far below the floor.
+                adt->terrainZ = tile->TerrainHeight(x, y);
                 column.AddLiquid(*adt);
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/shared/terrain/Terrain.hpp b/src/shared/terrain/Terrain.hpp
index 7ebd27964..92a3874c4 100644
--- a/src/shared/terrain/Terrain.hpp
+++ b/src/shared/terrain/Terrain.hpp
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ namespace world::terrain
         LiquidKind kind = LiquidKind::None;
         uint16_t entry = 0;   ///< LiquidType.dbc row id (0 = unknown)
         bool deep = false;    ///< drives swim fatigue ("dark water")
+        /// The ADT terrain under an ADT liquid; none for a model's liquid or
+        /// over a hole.
+        std::optional<float> terrainZ;
     };
 
     struct StaticInstance
diff --git a/src/tests/TerrainModelTest.cpp b/src/tests/TerrainModelTest.cpp
index bc82432fd..4a43738ae 100644
--- a/src/tests/TerrainModelTest.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/TerrainModelTest.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "TestHarness.h"
 
 #include "terrain/CollisionModel.hpp"
+#include "terrain/Column.hpp"
 #include "terrain/Terrain.hpp"
 #include "terrain/WmoModel.hpp"
 
@@ -336,3 +337,77 @@ TEST(WmoAreaInfoNamesTheGroupTheRayHit)
     REQUIRE(below.has_value());
     CHECK_EQ(below->groupId, uint32_t(111));
 }
+
+namespace
+{
+    LiquidInfo AdtWater(float level, std::optional<float> terrainZ)
+    {
+        LiquidInfo info;
+        info.level = level;
+        info.kind = LiquidKind::Water;
+        info.entry = 1;
+        info.terrainZ = terrainZ;
+        return info;
+    }
+}
+
+TEST(AdtLiquidDoesNotReachAPointFarUnderItsTerrain)
+{
+    // The Undercity, Miles Dexter: Tirisfal's water at 32.93, under its own
+    // terrain at 34.14, the city's floor 95 yards down. The reference GridMap
+    // left it dry.
+    Column c;
+    c.AddSolid(-62.28f, SurfaceKind::Static);
+    c.AddLiquid(AdtWater(32.93f, 34.14f));
+    CHECK(!c.LiquidFor(-62.2f).has_value());
+    // still there for a caller that asks for any liquid
+    CHECK(c.HighestLiquid().has_value());
+}
+
+TEST(AdtLiquidReachesAPointAboveOrJustUnderItsTerrain)
+{
+    Column c;
+    c.AddSolid(10.f, SurfaceKind::Terrain);
+    c.AddLiquid(AdtWater(15.f, 10.f));
+    const auto swimming = c.LiquidFor(12.f);
+    REQUIRE(swimming.has_value());
+    CHECK_EQ(swimming->z, 15.f);
+    CHECK(c.LiquidFor(10.f - ADT_LIQUID_BURIED_LIMIT + 0.5f).has_value());
+    CHECK(!c.LiquidFor(10.f - ADT_LIQUID_BURIED_LIMIT - 0.5f).has_value());
+}
+
+TEST(AdtLiquidUnderItsOwnTerrainIsNoLiquid)
+{
+    Column c;
+    c.AddLiquid(AdtWater(32.93f, 34.14f));
+    CHECK(!c.LiquidFor(40.f).has_value());
+}
+
+TEST(AdtLiquidOverAHoleAndModelLiquidAreNotFiltered)
+{
+    // No terrain under it (a hole cut for a WMO entrance) or a WMO's own
+    // liquid: the floor checks of the caller decide, as before.
+    Column c;
+    c.AddLiquid(AdtWater(32.93f, std::nullopt));
+    LiquidInfo wmo = AdtWater(-60.f, std::nullopt);
+    wmo.kind = LiquidKind::Slime;
+    c.AddLiquid(wmo);
+    const auto hole = c.LiquidFor(-62.2f);
+    REQUIRE(hole.has_value());
+    CHECK_EQ(hole->z, 32.93f);
+}
+
+TEST(BuriedAdtLiquidLeavesAModelLiquidBelowIt)
+{
+    // The canal of a city under a lake: the lake is out, the canal is the
+    // answer.
+    Column c;
+    c.AddLiquid(AdtWater(32.93f, 30.f));
+    LiquidInfo canal = AdtWater(-63.f, std::nullopt);
+    canal.kind = LiquidKind::Slime;
+    c.AddLiquid(canal);
+    const auto liquid = c.LiquidFor(-64.f);
+    REQUIRE(liquid.has_value());
+    CHECK_EQ(liquid->z, -63.f);
+    CHECK(liquid->liquid == LiquidKind::Slime);
+}
diff --git a/src/tools/height-check/HeightCheck.cpp b/src/tools/height-check/HeightCheck.cpp
index 08973c505..eb5fb6b76 100644
--- a/src/tools/height-check/HeightCheck.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/height-check/HeightCheck.cpp
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
         if (verbose)
         {
-            const auto liquid = column.HighestLiquid();
+            const auto liquid = column.LiquidFor(p.z);
             char liq[80] = "none";
             if (liquid)
             {