When it comes to municipal water systems, Ralph Capaul was a trailblazer. The former Coeur d’Alene water utility superintendent broke new ground in the expansion and modernization of the Lake City’s water system before retiring in 1993.

On Friday, city officials and community members paid tribute to Ralph during the dedication of the city’s 10^th water well. City council members, staff and city administrator Jim Hammond were on hand for the ribbon cutting of the Ralph Capaul well.

Water superintendent Jim Markley said when Ralph retired he left a modern up-to-date water system that was in great fiscal shape.

“Ralph always had great vision for the future,” Markley said. “At a time when no one else did this sort of thing, he got written confirmation of our surface water right. Today, we should be able to preserve that right, in large part, because of the documentation he got in the mid 1980’s.”

The new well just north of Hanley Avenue off Atlas Road, will increase the city’s pumping capacity from 37 million gallons a day to 43 million gallons a day and can pump up to 4,000 gallons per minute.

Hired by the city in 1975, Ralph continues to be a resource for the city, acting periodically as consultant for inquiries that are historic in nature, Markley said.

Photo: Ralph Capaul, center, cuts the ribbon for the new city water well at Hanley and Atlas. From left, city administrator Jim Hammond, city councilman Dan Gookin, Ralph, water department employee Jason Hendricks, and water superintendent Jim Markley.