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Denver Water celebrates at 9News Parade of Lights

The running toilet and a float depicting the journey of water from mountain to tap joined the 2-mile route.
December 3, 2018 | By: Cathy Proctor
A closer look at the banner on the float saying "Denver Water, 100 years, 1918-2018). Two vwomen, smiling, hold signs that read "From mountain to tap, it's all connected."
A closer look at Denver Water’s “Mountain Magic” float, which also celebrated the 100th anniversary.

 

Teams of Denver Water volunteers and their families marched in the 9News Parade of Lights last weekend for the fourth year in a row.

Some team members rode on the “Mountain Magic” float, which shows the journey of water from the “gift” of mountain snowpack to customers' taps.

Other volunteers marched next to the float, which features a snow-making machine, the Moffat Tunnel, water pipes and a customer tap.

Denver Water’s running toilet also made an appearance, to the joy of the thousands of people lining the parade route.

“The crowds love two things about Denver Water during the parade, the snow-making machine at the top of the float and the running toilet,” said Jose Salas, a Denver Water spokesperson who volunteered on Saturday night, the second night of the two-night, annual event.

The two-night parade, which this year wound through downtown on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, dates to 1975 and has grown into the largest and most-watched parade in the Rocky Mountain region. The parade features sparkling lights, marching bands, giant balloons and colorful floats.

“I’ve attended the 9News Parade of Lights in the past, but never had an opportunity to see it from this vantage point. It was an amazing experience to walk next to the Denver Water float and see the connection between the crowd and our employee-volunteers,” Salas said.

Salas shared this year’s event via a live feed on Denver Water’s Facebook page. Denver Water has participated in the parade since 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/DenverWater/videos/337890833678518/

 

This year, the parade capped a 12-month celebration of Denver Water’s 100th anniversary year, marking the century since the city’s residents voted in 1918 to create a five-member Board of Water Commissioners. That vote culminated in the creation of Denver Water, an organization that today employs 1,100 people who deliver clean, safe, reliable drinking water for 1.4 million people in Denver and some surrounding suburbs.

Snow flakes shimmer in the downtown street lights while the Denver Water float moves down the street.
Snow shimmered in the downtown lights during the 9News Parade of Lights.
Denver Water's "running toilet," with blue garland around the top of the tank and the bowl, stands in front of a row of portable toilets.
Denver Water’s running toilet runs into some cousins before the 2018 9News Parade of Lights.
Denver Water's "running toilet" is surrounded by children and adults smiling for the camer.
The running toilet makes some new friends along the route of the 9News Parade of Lights.
The float passes before crowds of people, with Denver Water volunteers in yellow jackets walking alongside.
Crowds lined the route of the 9News Parade of Lights. Denver Water has participated since 2015.
An image of a Denver Water volunteer in a yellow jacket, the running toilet giving a thumbs-up sign, and the Denver Water banner held by volunteers in elf costumes.
Along the 9News Parade of Lights route.
Denver WAter volunteers and the running toilet gather in front of the Denver Water float to smile for the camera.
Denver Water’s volunteer team on Friday, Nov. 30, at the 9News Parade of Lights.
Denver Water volunteers gather wit the running toilet in front of the float at the parade.
Denver Water’s volunteer team on Saturday, Dec. 1, at the 9News Parade of Lights.
Image shows a crowd of Denver WAter volunteers with yellow jackets, sparkly lights, and the "running toilet" with the Denver Water Logo decked out with garland at the top of the tank and around the bowl. In the background is the Denver Water "Magic Mountain" float.
Prepping for the 9News Parade of Lights. Denver Water has participated in the annual event since 2015.