Water Hero: Preston Bergeron

Preston Bergeron

Preston Bergeron

Tell us about your utility and its staff.

The Addison Central School District operates four groundwater wells located in Cornwall, Salisbury, Weybridge, and Ripton that serve schools across the district. These systems are overseen by Eric Warren, the District’s current operator. Several of the wells also serve other critical community facilities, including a fire department and a town garage, making them an important part of the broader community infrastructure.

As Eric begins to look toward retirement, he and Facilities Director Bruce MacIntire took a proactive approach to succession planning. Together, they approached Preston about training to eventually take on the responsibility of maintaining and operating these water systems. Preston’s story is a strong example of how thoughtful planning and providing staff with the time and support to train can ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Preston recently completed a one-year apprenticeship with the Vermont Rural Water Association focused on small water systems and has passed his Class 2 drinking water exam, an important milestone toward certification in Vermont.

As Eric begins to look toward retirement, he and Facilities Director Bruce MacIntire took a proactive approach to succession planning. Together, they approached Preston about training to eventually take on the responsibility of maintaining and operating these water systems. Preston’s story is a strong example of how thoughtful planning and providing staff with the time and support to train can ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Preston recently completed a one-year apprenticeship with the Vermont Rural Water Association focused on small water systems and has passed his Class 2 drinking water exam, an important milestone toward certification in Vermont.

What is a typical day like for you?

Preston’s day starts early. He arrives at the middle school at 6:00 a.m. to open the building for teachers who arrive by 7:30, followed soon after by students. While learning to operate and manage the District’s water systems is an important responsibility, it is just one piece of a much broader role.

As Lead Custodian, Preston manages a constantly evolving list of priorities — everything from fixing plumbing issues to cleaning up unexpected spills. He always keeps his pager on in case something urgent comes up. Mid-day, he assists with lunch duty and later cleans the kitchen and cafeteria. The variety of tasks keeps his days busy and reinforces how closely facility operations, student safety, and water system reliability are connected.

How did you get started in the water resources industry?

Preston’s entry into water operations grew directly out of the District’s commitment to succession planning. Leadership offered him the opportunity to attend trainings and enroll in the VRWA Apprenticeship Program to begin learning the systems he would eventually help oversee.

Preston originally began working in school maintenance after someone shared the opportunity with him. He started as a night custodian, later became lead for the night shift, and after eight years moved into a daytime position at the middle school when it became available. Along the way, he enrolled in a Facility Managers Course through the International Facility Management Association, a self-paced online program covering project management, budgeting, leadership, and presentation skills.

Learning water system operations felt like a natural extension of his role. Preston sees managing water systems as an essential part of keeping his community safe and cared for. While he is happy in his current position, he also recognizes that gaining these skills adds another layer of expertise that could open doors in the future.

What is your favorite part of the job?

Preston’s favorite part of the job is the environment and the people. He enjoys working alongside staff and interacting with students every day. This makes his work very different from that of a traditional water operator. The middle school sees between 450 and 500 people pass through its doors daily, creating many opportunities for Preston to positively impact someone’s day.

Preston often uses humor to connect with others, but he also takes his role as a mentor seriously. He shared a story about stepping in when some students were picking on another student. With permission from teachers, Preston invited the student to help him with afternoon cleaning and maintenance tasks. Spending the afternoon working together helped the student reset his day and feel proud of what he accomplished. Preston even encouraged him to reach out after graduation about job opportunities. For Preston, these moments are about building people up and introducing students to careers they may not realize exist.

What are you proud of?

Preston is proud of passing the Class 2 exam to become a licensed drinking water operator. After completing the apprenticeship and studying for the exam, he feels confident in his ability to continue learning the systems that the schools in his district depend on every day.

He is also proud of the quality of the water produced by the District’s wells. Each of the four wells produces excellent water that requires very little treatment to provide high-quality drinking water to students and staff.

This can be a hard job that gets little thanks. What keeps you going?

Knowing that he is helping people is what keeps Preston motivated. He wants students, teachers, and staff to feel confident that they are entering a clean, safe building every day. Ensuring reliable access to safe drinking water is a meaningful part of that responsibility, and one that Preston takes seriously.

Do you have any advice for other water operators?

Preston encourages anyone who is curious about water operations or considering getting involved to go for it. Water system management was not something he initially expected to become part of his role, but it has turned into a challenge he is excited to take on.

He credits the VRWA Apprenticeship Program with helping him apply new concepts to work he was already doing. He appreciated the structured framework, which included a laptop, textbooks, online coursework, and in-person training. The flexibility allowed him to pace himself and truly absorb the material. Preston also emphasized the importance of exam preparation. He took at least four practice exams in the days leading to his state exam.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Preston enjoys landscaping around his home and spending time on hands-on hobbies. He is into RC cars, building computers, and trail building. He often can be found using his tractor and chainsaw to create trails for himself and neighbors to ride dirt bikes and four-wheelers.

Thank you, Preston, and to all of Vermont’s water and wastewater heroes who perform essential services to protect the health and environment of our communities!

Do you know a Water Hero who should be featured here? Email info@vtruralwater.org