CAPEN

CAPEN 01.11. 1895 Jersey City NJ/USA 12.03. 1987 Sarasota FL/USA Charles Herbert Capen graduated as a civil engineer from Cornell University, Ithaca NY, in 1917. He was then an assistant engineer at Pittsburgh PA and New York and in 1919 joined as assistant engineer the New Jersey State Department of Health. From 1925 until retirement in 1955, he was engaged with the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission NJDWSC, finally as chief engineer. In parallel, Capen was from 1927 a consultant to more than 40 municipalities in design, construction and operation of water and sewage facilities, pumping stations, sewer systems, and water works. During his career, Capen was a member, chairman and director of the American Water Works Association AWWA, receiving in 1938 their first G.W. Fuller Award, the 1941 Fuertes Graduate Medal from Cornell University, among others. He was AWWA president in 1952 and Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. The NJDWSC is responsible for the operation of the largest water supply system in New Jersey State, including more than 250 km2 of watershed area, two major reservoirs, two river-diversion pumping stations and a more than 5 m3/s water filtration plant. At peak, this institution serves the water needs of more than 2 million people in Northern New Jersey. Capen was one of the major collaborators of NJDWSC, thereby supporting its activities in engineering and administration. He guided NJDWSC through the difficult 1930s and finally succeeded in a vital and economic water distributor. He in parallel developed also the design of large diameter pipes in terms of friction loss, thereby accounting for the scientific developments shortly before World War 2. The history of water supply in New Jersey was of further interest to him. Anonymous (1947). Charles H. Capen. Journal American Water Works Association 39(8): 14. P Anonymous (1964). Capen, Charles Herbert. Who’s who in engineering 9: 370. Lewis: New York. Anonymous (1967). Charles H. Capen. Journal American Water Works Association 79(6): 126. P Capen, C.H. (1936). History of the development of the use of water in northeastern New Jersey. Journal of the American Water Works Association 28(8): 973-982. Capen, C.H. (1937). How much water do we consume? Journal AWWA 29(2): 201-212. Capen, C.H. (1941). Trends in coefficients of large pressure pipes. Journal of the American Water Works Association 33(1): 1-83. Kelly, H.A., Capen, C.H., Buckley, R.C. (1953). Flood control attainable by land use and treatment. New Jersey.