His career extended from about 1860 to 1930, and he is best known for inventing the Venturi meter, which was the first large-scale, accurate device for measuring water flow.

He attended Harvard University, where he received his bachelor of science degree in 1860 from the Lawrence Scientific School.

[10] Water supply development in northern New Jersey was an active area of investment in the late 19th century.

[11] After 1900 and lasting until the end of his life, Herschel was a consulting hydraulic engineer with offices in New York City.

[14] Herschel was awarded the Elliott Cresson medal in 1889 by the Franklin Institute for his development of the Venturi water meter.

[7][8] In 1888, Herschel was presented with the Thomas Fitch Rowland Prize by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

[16] Each year, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section presents the Clemens Herschel Award to authors "…who have published papers that have been useful, commendable, and worthy of grateful acknowledgment.

While traveling in Italy in 1898, he was allowed to make a photographic copy of a manuscript of de Aquaeductu Urbis Romae by Sextus Julius Frontinus, who had been chief administrator of the water supply system of ancient Rome.