Dick Kilhart recognized as Outstanding Drinking Water Operator

ATHOL – Former Public Works Director Dick Kilhart was recently recognized by state’s Department of Environmental Protection as Outstanding Drinking Water Operator for the Western Mass Region.

The honor comes some six months after Kilhart retired from his post in Athol.

A letter from the DEP announcing the award said, “Under your leadership, Athol DPW Water Division has been an example of how a public water system can be successfully run and have rightfully received Compliance Drinking Water awards from 2022 through 2024. Mass DEP realizes it is no easy task to keep up with the every-evolving federal and state regulations. While most operators strive just to comply with the regulations, you have put forth extra effort.”

“I’m still trying to find out who nominated me,” Kilhart said “The nomination typically comes from the region itself, but they don’t really tell you who did it. Somebody in the region obviously just said, ‘Hey, how about Kilhart?’

“I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an individual award,” he continued. “Everything for me has always been about the community’s efforts. I was pretty shocked.”

Prior to his time in Athol, Kilhart also worked for the public works departments in the towns of Ware and Orange.

“Of the 108 or so water systems in western Mass, they selected me and I appreciate it,” he said. “I was one of a handful across the state; they do one from each region each year. I was pretty excited about that. It’s nice icing on the cake. It’s a nice way to cap a long and sometimes difficult and challenging career.”

Kilhart joined the Athol DPW in 2018 to work as assistant director under former director Doug Walsh in Athol, after leaving the director’s job in Ware. He then took over as director when Walsh retired in 2020. He announced his intention to retire after 40 years in the public works field earlier this year.

In May 2025, Athol’s Water Division was among 15 from Large & Medium Community Systems  across the state to receive an award for “noteworthy performance” from the DEP – the third consecutive year the divisions was so honored.

Kilhart said the award reflects the hard work done by both him and his crew.

“I always tell people that in this business you’re likely to do one legacy project. Something big, something that affects a water supply for many, many years to come – the next 50 years or 100 years, even,” said Kilhart.

He said he’s been fortunate to have a hand in several.

“Going back to my days in Orange, we crossed the Millers River with a new pipeline….In Athol, the Green Street ARPA project, we replaced a transmission main that was 140 years old.”

With award in hand, Kilhart now returns to fishing and visiting his three grandsons in Georgia.

“This retirement stuff is okay,” he said.