He was a widely recognized hydrologist and hydraulic engineer, acclaimed for his contributions to hydrology and water resources development.
Chow joined the faculty of the University of Illinois in the Department of Civil Engineering in 1948 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1962.
Some of his unusual contributions include his watershed experimentation system, which produced storms in the laboratory using sophisticated electronic, pneumatic, and sonar controls.
At the time it was one of the most sophisticated laboratories in the world for physical hydrology and attracted worldwide attention and interest among scientists, engineers, and the public.
Under Ven Te Chow's leadership, the IWRA began publishing the academic journal Water International in 1975.