diff --git a/pyDeltaRCM/init_tools.py b/pyDeltaRCM/init_tools.py
index e30d0ebf..ce11dddf 100644
--- a/pyDeltaRCM/init_tools.py
+++ b/pyDeltaRCM/init_tools.py
@@ -386,7 +386,6 @@ def set_constants(self) -> None:
 
         # kernels for topographic smoothing
         self.kernel1 = np.array([[1, 1, 1], [1, -8, 1], [1, 1, 1]]).astype(np.int64)
-
         self.kernel2 = np.array([[1, 1, 1], [1, 0, 1], [1, 1, 1]]).astype(np.int64)
 
     def create_boundary_conditions(self) -> None:
@@ -434,7 +433,7 @@ def create_boundary_conditions(self) -> None:
 
         # at inlet
         self.qw0 = self.u0 * self.h0  # water unit input discharge
-        self.Qp_water = self.Qw0 / self._Np_water  # volume each water parcel
+        self.Qp_water = self.Qw0 / self._Np_water  # discharge each water parcel
         self.qs0 = self.qw0 * self.C0  # sed unit discharge
         self.dVs = 0.1 * self.N0**2 * self.V0  # total sed added per timestep
         self.Qs0 = self.Qw0 * self.C0  # sediment total input discharge
diff --git a/pyDeltaRCM/water_tools.py b/pyDeltaRCM/water_tools.py
index 786b4bba..026a811a 100644
--- a/pyDeltaRCM/water_tools.py
+++ b/pyDeltaRCM/water_tools.py
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ def init_water_iteration(self) -> None:
         self.pad_depth = np.pad(self.depth, 1, "edge")
         self.pad_cell_type = np.pad(self.cell_type, 1, "edge")
 
+        # configure the starting indices for each parcel
+        inlet_weights = self.get_inlet_weights_water()
+        self.start_indices = shared_tools.get_start_indices(
+            self.inlet, inlet_weights, self._Np_water
+        )
+
     def get_inlet_weights_water(self, **kwargs):
         """Get weight for inlet cells for water parcels.
 
@@ -91,11 +97,8 @@ def run_water_iteration(self) -> None:
         _msg = "Beginning stepping of water parcels"
         self.log_info(_msg, verbosity=2)
 
-        # configure the starting indices for each parcel
-        inlet_weights = self.get_inlet_weights_water()
-        start_indices = shared_tools.get_start_indices(
-            self.inlet, inlet_weights, self._Np_water
-        )
+        # grab from initialization step
+        start_indices = self.start_indices
 
         # init parcel step number counter
         _step = 0
@@ -691,7 +694,8 @@ def _get_weight_at_cell_water(
                     weight[~wall] = 1 / nnotwall
                 else:
                     raise RuntimeError(
-                        "No non-wall cells surrounding cell. " "Please report error."
+                        "No non-wall cells surrounding cell."
+                        "Please report error including logfile."
                     )
 
             weight = weight / np.sum(weight)