Blog: Vermont's Water Heroes

Esther Blow has been the clerk/treasurer for Grand Isle Fire District 4 for 36 years. She enjoys working with numbers and working with people.

Join us in saying farewell to Paul Sestito, who has left Vermont Rural Water because his family moved to Connecticut. Paul had worked here for over 10 years as a Water Systems Specialist, providing technical assistance to drinking water systems across Vermont.

Jay Nadeau has worked in the water resources field for nearly 40 years. He will be retiring from Champlain Water District at the end of 2024.

Carol O’ Donoughue is a water operator at Alburgh Fire District #1. She is proud to be a female operator and to provide drinking water to the neighborhood where she lives.

Scott Taggert retired from the Rutland City Water Department at the end of April. He worked at the City of Rutland for over 30 years and was the Water Treatment Manager for 12 years.

Gail Ball retired at the end of January after 13 years as the Clerk/Treasurer of Lunenburg Fire District #1.

Amy Polaczyk worked for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation in the Wastewater Management Program for eight years. She recently transitioned to a new opportunity at Tetra Tech.

Chris Robinson has worked in Shelburne’s wastewater department for over 25 years. He will be retiring in the spring of 2025.

Diana Butler recently left the Vermont Rural Water Association after five years as a Water System Specialist and Source Protection Specialist. She helped countless water systems, and her endless enthusiasm will be missed!