diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua
index 15cb55bd9c..52680e178e 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_sponges/init.lua
@@ -63,10 +63,8 @@ end
 
 function mcl_sponges.absorb(pos)
 	local change = false
-	-- Count number of absorbed river water vs other nodes
+	-- Count number of absorbed liquid by type vs other nodes
 	-- to determine the wet sponge type.
-	local river_water = 0
-	local non_river_water = 0
 	local out = {}
 	local p, n
 	for i=-3,3 do
@@ -74,13 +72,12 @@ function mcl_sponges.absorb(pos)
 			for k=-3,3 do
 				pos = {x=pos.x+i, y=pos.y+j, z=pos.z+k}
 				node = minetest.get_node(pos)
-				if minetest.get_item_group(node.name, "water") ~= 0 then
-					minetest.add_node(pos, {name="air"})
-					change = true
-					if node.name == "mclx_core:river_water_source" or node.name == "mclx_core:river_water_flowing" then
-						river_water = river_water + 1
-					else
-						non_river_water = non_river_water + 1
+				for name,def in mcl_sponges.registered_sponges do
+					if minetest.get_item_group(node.name, def.liquidgroup) ~= 0 then
+						minetest.add_node(pos, {name="air"})
+						change = true
+						out[name] = out[name]+1
+						break
 					end
 				end
 			end