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Water Use and Conservation

Weyerhaeuser recognizes water use and water quality as global social and environmental issues. Research indicates that approximately 88 percent of the water used in the forest products manufacturing process is treated and returned to the environment.

Making pulp and paper requires large volumes of water, and we are working on ways to reduce water use in our operations. As part of our membership in the U.S. Business Roundtable S.E.E. Change initiative, we set a water-use reduction goal in May 2008 to reduce water use at our cellulose fibers mills 20 percent by 2012, using a 2007 baseline. We achieved a 10 percent water use reduction in 2008 compared to our 2007 baseline. The goal-setting process included analyzing water use at our cellulose fibers mills and comparing performance to industry benchmarks. As a result of this analysis, beginning with 2007, we will include separate cooling water discharges as part of our total water use at these mills.

We also monitor our effect on water tables in our forestry operations. For instance, in Uruguay, where we've planted trees on former grazing land, we initiated a long-term study in 1999 to determine the effect of the land use change on the region's water table. Since then, we've collaborated with a Uruguayan organization and North Carolina State University to determine the effects of change in land use, including annual water yield, peak runoff rates, and water quality.

Water Use
Total water use: Estimated gallons of water used per ton of production
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Cellulose fiber mills total wastewater discharged1, 2 17,413 17,192 16,018 15,978 14,409
Wood products facilities water use 119 99 87 85 94
  1. Wastewater discharged is used as a surrogate measurement for water use and includes separate cooling water discharges.
  2. Data reflects performance of Weyerhaeuser’s 2009 portfolio of cellulose fibers mills. In March 2007, Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper business and related assets were combined with Domtar Inc. to create a new fine paper company, Domtar Corporation. In August 2008, Weyerhaeuser’s containerboard, packaging and recycling business was sold to International Paper. Operations involved in those transactions have been removed from historical data.

Connection of the Forest Products Industry to the Water Cycle

Graphic of the water resource cycle
Source: National Council for Air and Stream Improvement. Water Profile Of The United States Forest Products Industry, Technical Bulletin No. 960. March 2009.

Last updated May 19, 2009.