P&G's tissue, toweling paper mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin, cuts use of city water by 26%, trims water bill by about US$140,000 so far in 2012 after obtaining state permit and pumping more of its water from the Fox River

Sandy Yang

LOS ANGELES , June 22, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – Procter & Gamble Co.’s (P&G) tissue and toweling paper mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is reducing its costs for water by pumping some of the water it consumes directly from the Fox River, reported The Green Bay Press Gazette on June 22.

So far in 2012, the mill has cut its city water consumption by 26%, to 226 million gallons from 306 million gallons. This has reduced the local water utility’s sales to P&G, its biggest water customer, by about US$140,000 so far this year.

Attempts to contact P&G officials were unsuccessful, the Press Gazette reported.

Before pumping from the Fox River, P&G obtained a permit from the state Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) last year. A permit is required for drawing more than 100,000 gallons a day from the river.

Georgia-Pacific Corp. (G-P) also has a tissue and toweling paper mill in Green Bay that pumps water out of the river. The mill is the local utility’s second-largest customer, using some 216 million gallons so far this year, reported the Press Gazette.

GP’s Green Bay mill treats the river water it uses and returns it to the river in a higher-quality state than raw river water, said GP spokesperson Michael Kawleski.

The size and volume flow of the Fox River makes it unlikely that industrial use would be “problematic,” said Eric Ebersberger, water use section chief for the state DNR.

Reduced revenue from P&G could cause the local water utility to raise rates for other customers, but it’s doubtful, said Tim Nixon, president of the water commission, the Press Gazette reported.

The primary source of this article is The Green Bay Press Gazette, Green Bay, Wisconsin, on June 22, 2012.

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