Supporting assemblies for supporting a suspended load and processes relating thereto are described. An exemplar supporting assembly includes: (i) an area-narrowing feature including a first inner surface defining a first aperture; (ii) a main tube including an interior-main surface defining a cavity having disposed therewithin the area-narrowing feature; (iii) an area-expanding feature including a second outer surface; and (iv) a telescoping rod including an outer-telescoping surface having disposed thereon the area-expanding feature. In an assembled state of the supporting assembly, the outer-telescoping surface slidably passes through and establishes a first frictional contact with the first inner surface, and the second outer surface slidably engages and establishes a second frictional contact with the interior-main surface. In this configuration, the area-narrowing feature and the area-expanding feature facilitate slidable engagement of the telescoping rod to expand out of or retract inside, without decoupling from, the main tube.

An example system includes a valve between a suction pipe extending into a sewage pit and a vacuum pipe connected to a sewer system. The vacuum pipe has vacuum pressure. The valve is controllable to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, and into the vacuum pipe. A sensor is configured to detect the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe. The valve is controllable to open for a duration that is based, at least in part, on the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe.

An example apparatus is for use in a system that includes a sewage pit, a suction pipe in the sewage pit, and a valve between the suction pipe and a vacuum pipe that connects to a sewer system. The apparatus includes a controller configured to perform operations that include: detecting a vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe, determining that the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe is below a predefined pressure, and preventing the valve from opening in response to determining that the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe is below the predefined pressure.

The present invention provides a method of treating wastewater in a wastewater system. The wastewater system comprises a treatment plant comprising a treatment space and a sewer system comprising a sewer space. The treatment plant further comprises a treatment inlet for supplying wastewater to the treatment system from the sewer system. The method comprises the step of: providing a treatment parameter being significant for purification of wastewater in the treatment plant, determining an actual spare plant capacity indicating an amount of wastewater which can be supplied to the treatment space, and determining an actual spare wastewater storage volume indicating an amount of wastewater which can be retained in the sewer space. The amount of wastewater supplied through the treatment inlet to the treatment plant is varied based on the treatment parameter, the actual spare plant capacity, and the actual spare wastewater storage volume.

Systems and methods for determining cross-section profiles of underground fluid conveyance structures involves a memory configured to store a profile scan dataset of at least one pipe and at least one pipe template. A processor is configured to compare the profile scan dataset to one or more templates. Profile deviations in a pipe profile are determined using the comparison. A location and an areal measurement of the profile deviations is determined. A user interface is configured to present the profile deviations to a user.

A pump out system removes a liquid from a worksite and includes a pump, a power source, a rigid spacer, a coupling, and a flexible discharge hose. The pump moves the liquid from an intake of the pump to an output of the pump in response to receiving power. The power source selectively connects to the pump to provide power to the pump. The rigid spacer connects the power source to the pump and spaces the power source from the submersible pump. The coupling sealingly secures the rigid spacer to the pump and prevents ingress of the liquid into the rigid spacer and a cavity defined by the coupling and the pump. The flexible discharge hose connects to the output of the pump and communicates the liquid from the output of the pump away from the worksite.

A pump out system removes a liquid from a worksite and includes a pump, a power source, a rigid spacer, a coupling, and a flexible discharge hose. The pump moves the liquid from an intake of the pump to an output of the pump in response to receiving power. The power source selectively connects to the pump to provide power to the pump. The rigid spacer connects the power source to the pump and spaces the power source from the submersible pump. The coupling sealingly secures the rigid spacer to the pump and prevents ingress of the liquid into the rigid spacer and a cavity defined by the coupling and the pump. The flexible discharge hose connects to the output of the pump and communicates the liquid from the output of the pump away from the worksite.

The present disclosure describes systems and apparatus for detecting an impending sewer backup by detecting fluid undulations of predetermined magnitude inside a main body of a backwater valve. When at least a predetermined number of fluid undulations of predetermined magnitude are detected within a predetermined time period, an alarm can be triggered. Such undulations can be detected by monitoring a buoyant gate in a normally-open backwater valve to detecting instances of movement of the gate from a lowered position in which fluid flow from an inlet through the backwater valve is unobstructed by the gate toward but stopping short of a raised position in which the gate closes the inlet to obstruct fluid flow through the valve. For example, a sensor can be carried on the gate to detect movement of the gate. Alternatively, fluid levels inside the main body can be monitored directly.

The present disclosure describes systems and apparatus for detecting an impending sewer backup by detecting fluid undulations of predetermined magnitude inside a main body of a backwater valve. When at least a predetermined number of fluid undulations of predetermined magnitude are detected within a predetermined time period, an alarm can be triggered. Such undulations can be detected by monitoring a buoyant gate in a normally-open backwater valve to detecting instances of movement of the gate from a lowered position in which fluid flow from an inlet through the backwater valve is unobstructed by the gate toward but stopping short of a raised position in which the gate closes the inlet to obstruct fluid flow through the valve. For example, a sensor can be carried on the gate to detect movement of the gate. Alternatively, fluid levels inside the main body can be monitored directly.

Disclosed herein is a free-standing cesspool and a cesspool liner that may be used to retrofit existing cesspools in order to provide additional storage and/or processing for raw sewage before the sewage leaches out of the cesspool.