The recycled water filter line took used water from the sump on level 7 and removed large objects before they reached the recycling pump. Without the filter, the pump would seize, and the precious water could not reach the recycling assembly. Without clean water they would die before they reached Mars or the re-supply vessel they could intercept in an emergency. The only other pump, on level 3, failed 2 weeks ago, and the level 7 pump was beginning to make suspicious noises.
It was Dave's job to change the recycling pump filters, but he'd never known where they were or how to change them. He'd slept through that part of the brief.