Lester Zimmerman says he's "not good at doing nothing."

There is a lengthy list of tasks at which Zimmerman excels.

Evidence of these statements came Jan. 10 when the 39-year Hempfield Water Authority employee was presented the 2024 Guy E. Shaffer Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association (PRWA).

"It's a yearly award given to someone who shows dedication throughout their lifetime in the water/wastewater industry," said the PRWA's Matt Bittner, who presented the plaque to Zimmerman during a surprise lunchtime get-together at the HWA office.

HWA superintendent Steve Gohn had nominated Zimmerman for a different award, Water Treatment Plant Operator of the Year.

"We at Pennsylvania Rural Water thought he was more deserving of the lifetime achievement award because of all his years of service and dedication," Bittner said.

Gohn said Zimmerman is especially deserving of the accolade. "I've worked with him for 28 years, and the man can fix anything," the superintendent said. "He has good ideas about how to improve things around here. He's a big asset to our facility here."

Zimmerman had no inkling of what was to happen until he walked through the office door to find the door to the conference room closed.

"I walked into Steve's office, and he said, 'We're ready,'" Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman had no clue who was ready for what. He soon learned the catered lunch for HWA employees was a ruse set up to surprise him.

"I was speechless," said Zimmerman, a water operator who performs plant maintenance. "I had no idea. I was trying to think of different things (it could be). It's been a good ride. It really has. From the start to today."

He has no plans to retire any time soon. "When you enjoy what you're doing, it's easy to come to work," Zimmerman said, adding he plans to continue working "as long as I stay healthy and keep my wits about me."

Zimmerman might not have gotten a job with the HWA if not for congestion on his commute to a previous job. After working for a machine shop that closed, Zimmerman found employment as a machinist in Lancaster. It took only 15 to 20 minutes for Zimmerman to drive to work in the early morning but almost an hour to return to his West Hempfield home in the afternoon because of traffic.

Neighbor Gary Mitchell advised Zimmerman to speak with HWA's then-boss Rod Ray.

"Gary sent me over to see Rod," Zimmerman recalls. "I liked what I did, but I was unhappy with the traffic. Rod interviewed me, and it wasn't long after that, he said, 'January 2, show up.' I'm still here."

Zimmerman enjoys facing different challenges each day. "It's not repetitious," he said. "When you walk in the door, you don't know which fire you're going to put out first."

Any parts of the job he dislikes? "To tell you the truth, I really can't think of any," Zimmerman said.

He has witnessed many changes in the HWA, which now has 92 miles of pipeline, six pumping stations, and six storage tanks throughout its system and serves more than 6,800 customers in the Salunga and Rohrerstown areas with drinkable water.

"I've seen a lot of growth in this place," Zimmerman says. "(HWA's current office) wasn't here when I started. There was a little corner office in the shop. I saw this building being built. The main plant being built. I saw wells 6 and 7 being developed and I saw well 8 and well 11 being developed."

Zimmerman and his wife, Dianna, have three children - daughters Amy Zimmerman and Wendy Reynolds and son Benjamin Zimmerman - and nine grandchildren.

When he's not spending time with family, Zimmerman is often in his home shop, restoring cars or repairing lawn mowers, weed eaters, and snow blowers for friends and neighbors.

"Anything that has a motor on it, I don't want to brag, but it's easy for me to fix," he says.

Zimmerman insists on staying busy. He grew up on a farm and has always been an early riser, usually awaking at 5 a.m.

After breakfast, he does some work in his shop before leaving for the HWA at 7:45 a.m. Following work then dinner with family, he heads back to his home shop.

Zimmerman doesn't hesitate when it is time to do it all over again the next day. After receiving the plaque, Zimmerman was a bit overwhelmed and happy to know how much he is appreciated.

"I can't come up with the words," he said. "I work with a good group of fellows. That makes it so easy to come to work. That makes it easy to get out of bed."