by Elijah Lemieux
This article was published in the Summer 2026 issue of our newsletter.
When people talk about the kind of operator every community hopes to have—someone who commits their career to protecting public health and supporting their neighbors—Bob Wells is exactly who they mean. In a career that spans almost four decades in Vermont’s wastewater field, Bob’s impact is evident not only in the systems he has helped maintain and improve, but in the people he has supported along the way.
Following his recent retirement from the Town of Middlebury, Bob was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Tony Torchia Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the state’s water and wastewater industry, and was presented to Bob at Vermont Rural Water’s conference in May.
Bob Wells received the Tony Torchia Award at Vermont Rural Water’s annual conference in May.
Bob has always brought a mix of professionalism, humor, and approachability to his work. He ran a tight ship—his facility in Middlebury has long been known for being exceptionally managed—but he is just as well known for being someone others feel comfortable calling. Whether it’s troubleshooting a problem, talking through a process, or encouraging someone to take the next step in their certification, he has consistently been a steady and supportive presence in the field.
His career began in 1988 at the Fair Haven Wastewater Treatment Facility. Like many operators, Bob didn’t originally plan to work in the field. But the hands-on nature of the job, the constant problem-solving, and the sense that what you do matters every day kept him in the job.
He advanced his career with roles including assistant, chief operator, and village manager in Castleton, Colchester, Fair Haven, Middlebury, and Poultney. Each step brought more responsibility, along with a deeper understanding of the work itself.
Middlebury is where Bob left his biggest mark. He spent 28 years as wastewater superintendent, overseeing a facility that became a model of consistency and care.
For Bob, though, the work has always been about more than the systems—it’s about the people. Over the years, he made a point of supporting operators as they learned and advanced, and he has stayed connected with many of them long after they moved on. He has been a strong advocate for professional development and for sharing knowledge, especially in a field where so much is learned through experience.
He doesn’t spend much time talking about his own accomplishments, but they speak for themselves. Early in his career, Bob earned the highest score in Vermont on the Grade 5 wastewater exam—though, as he’ll quickly point out, he received the lowest score possible to pass, but was the only person to do so that year.
Like any long career, his included its share of memorable moments. One story that still gets a laugh involves a trebuchet built at the plant as a school project for another operator’s child. It became a hands-on lesson in math, mechanics, and creativity—skills that translate directly to the profession. But the trebuchet worked a little too well, leaving a permanent mark on one of the tanks.
Bob Wells enjoying retirement with his rescue dog.
Bob tends to take a practical view of challenges. Mistakes, in his mind, are part of the process—something to learn from, not dwell on. As he puts it, “Just because we have been doing it wrong all this time doesn’t mean we have to continue to do it that way.”
Through it all, his approach has stayed grounded in his values: take pride in the work, keep learning, and don’t cut corners. In a job that often goes unrecognized, he’s always been self-motivated. Even without outside recognition, Bob takes satisfaction in knowing the job was done right. And when a “thank you” does come along, it only adds fuel for the next task.
Even in retirement, Bob hasn’t stepped away completely. He continues to work with Vermont Rural Water to provide on-site training for dairy wastewater operators—a specialty that doesn’t always get the support it needs and where experienced guidance can be hard to find.
At home, he and his wife are enjoying a “slower” pace—taking on projects together, traveling, spending time with family, and fitting in plenty of golf, fishing, and baking along the way. A recently adopted rescue dog keeps things interesting.
Bob thanked mentors, coworkers, operators from other facilities, and many more who had played a role in his career. It was a long list, and one he likely could have continued. It’s a simple reflection of the way he’s always approached the work: with appreciation for the people around him.
There are many ways to measure a career like Bob’s—years of service, systems improved, certifications earned. But just as important is the example he has set: high standards, steady leadership, and a genuine willingness to help others succeed.
That’s the kind of impact that lasts.