Environmental

Our Environmental Commitment

Northwest Pipe Company is committed to operating in compliance with Federal, State, and local environmental regulations, and environmental permits. We strive to reduce our impact on people and the environment through all phases of our manufacturing activities by seeking methods to control pollutants in stormwater runoff and air emissions, and to minimize waste.

We all aim to minimize the impact of our manufacturing process on the environment. In recent years, we have made great strides to minimize air pollution, waste, stormwater, and hazardous material spills.

Reducing Our Footprint

As a company, we invest in improvements that not only make our manufacturing more efficient, but also prove to be less harmful to the environment.  We seek methods of controlling pollutants in stormwater runoff and air emissions, as well as minimizing waste in all our production activities. We continue to invest in enhancements in our coating and lining processing that improves particulate release and reduces emissions well below the related environmental standards.

Recently, our efforts were recognized when our Adelanto plant received the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s Exemplar Award. Each year, the District presents the Exemplar Award to entities or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the prevention and/or control of air pollution. The District states, “Northwest Pipe Company is on the leading edge of a growing movement of social responsibility and environmental sustainability that aims to protect our fragile environment for future generations.”

Our environmental sustainability efforts extend to our other plants as well, where upgrades to more efficient lighting systems are creating energy savings while improving visibility. At our Portland plant, a full energy consumption audit in partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon has led to the implementation of facility-wide energy-efficient upgrades, including:

• • Programmable thermostats
  • Dedicated compressor systems for specific production areas
  • Compressed air storage
  • Heat pump replacements for electric heater and window AC units
  • Lighting controls for non-production areas
  • Energy usage monitoring in key locations

With these and other changes in place, and a team dedicated to reducing energy usage across the facility, the Portland Plant is saving a projected 197,697 kWh/year.

Recycling Materials

As a manufacturer of steel and concrete pipe, we procure and work with millions of tons of recycled material. In addition to the lack of waste from steel, our plant operations and corporate philosophy aim to promote health and environmental excellence while limiting adverse impacts of construction on the environment.

Providing Sustainable Solutions

As a manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products, we have the privilege of bringing water to communities and improving livability. Water is an equalizer that drives a population’s health, individual growth, and prosperity. It’s also a precious natural resource that requires careful handling to ensure a balance of community access and environmental sustainability.

With climate change disrupting weather patterns and causing long-term drought in regions where water has previously been more available, responsible resource management and reliable water transmission solutions are becoming even more crucial. Our quality and long-lasting engineered steel pipe products support critical modernization projects that replace or rehabilitate crumbling, aging infrastructure, reducing water loss and saving millions of gallons of water a year.