Maine Wastewater Control Association 
60 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330  

The Department of Environmental Protection would like to honor Gary Levesque for his long career as a wastewater operator. Upon retirement on November 30, 2006, Gary will have the distinction of having served the District for over 27 years…the operator with the longest tenure since the formation of the District in 1950. It is amazing that in these 27 years he has never taken a day off for sickness!

Gary came to the District with no prior wastewater experience but worked hard to become the capable operator that he is today by virtue of his Aroostook County work ethic and extensive training.

Shortly after he began working for the District, he became chief operator and industry liaison working with A&P and Interstate potato processing plants which were major contributors to the treatment plant. Gary did a considerable amount of “jawboning” with the industry’s administrators to keep their discharges within limits so that the treatment plant would not become overwhelmed and non-compliant. His persistence paid off, but it was a never-ending job and almost everyday he spent time at the processing plant, cajoling, “sassing”, or sweet talking so “HIS” treatment plant would not be overloaded.

In recent years much of his day has been spent in the lab and at his desk dealing with testing and reporting requirements, diverting him from the job he loves the most: operating the treatment plant.

Gary's positive attitude can be summed up in his own words: On an occasion when a visitor was commenting on the odor and health risks of working in a wastewater plant, Gary replied “Oh, it isn’t so bad. Look at me. When I came to work here I was only four feet tall ….and now I’m five foot six!”

The wastewater field is losing a long time advocate when Gary retires, but he has more than paid his dues and we wish him the very best in retirement.

Thank you Gary for 27 dedicated years protecting the water quality of the great State of Maine!
Continue with the great work and thank you for a job well done!