This is a story I’ve wanted to tell for years.

I have worked for Denver Water for more than a decade. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about the complex system that brings melted snow to metro-area communities that need safe, clean drinking water.

I have written stories encouraging wise water use and provided zombie apocalypse survival tips.

But how does a mountain snowflake transform into a home’s water supply?

That’s the story I wanted to tell.

The system is vast and complex, but at its heart, it is a human story.

Behind all the pipes, pumps, dams and treatment plants is a network of employees who are passionate about their job. These are amazing people who do incredible work, in beautiful and challenging environments, often at the sacrifice of weekends or holidays with loved ones. And they do it to ensure that we can turn on the faucet and take a shower, cook a meal, wash our clothes or simply have a drink.

It’s the water that connects us all.

This four-part series takes a trip through Denver Water’s system, from snowflake to tap. We meet some of the dedicated people who guide the water down to its path into our homes.

So let’s start this “Journey of Water” right at the beginning, in the mountains on a cold January day, following two Denver Water employees as they perform a routine task of measuring water content in snowpack.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll follow the journey of water into the watershed, past reservoirs, through a treatment plant and, ultimately, bring it all home.

Sign up to receive TAP’s weekly email to catch the next chapter in our journey and other water stories by entering your email address at the top, right-hand corner of this page.

Can’t wait to see the next chapter? Continue the journey now at denverwater.org/JourneyofWater.