In 2024, Mercer Spokane significantly enhanced its water efficiency, cutting usage by 2 million gallons (7,570 m3) —a 44% reduction compared to the prior year. This resulted from the diligence of Mercer Spokane’s employees who, through careful monitoring, identified and modified the facility’s six evaporative cooling units.
These units play a vital role in maintaining optimal humidity and temperature conditions—key for ensuring glue adhesion and preventing the lumber and finished products from drying out. These systems stabilize the environment at approximately 70°F but due to a wiring issue, the water was flowing continuously. By closely monitoring water consumption, the problem was identified, and quickly addressed.
Beyond compliance and financial savings, this success demonstrates how proactive problem-solving and utility monitoring yield meaningful results. By leveraging tools to track water, energy, and gas usage, Mercer Spokane continues to identify new efficiency opportunities, including touchless systems to minimize false activations.
This milestone is part of a broader commitment to sustainability across the operations. Lessons learned, like the value of routine inspections and data-driven decision-making, are now being shared across facilities to inspire similar successes.
Process Engineer
44%
Water use reduction at Mercer Spokane
