Abstract:
According to some embodiments, sewer alarm devices and apparatus are provided for detecting the presence of liquid within a pipe. In some embodiments, the devices and apparatus include a housing defining an interior volume, the housing including a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion mounted on an exterior surface of the pipe. At least a first mounting portion extends outwardly from the housing and receives at least a first strap securing the housing to the exterior surface of the pipe. A probe housing extends from the interior volume of the housing to an interior of the pipe, and at least a first probe is disposed within the probe housing and exposed to the interior of the pipe along a first direction substantially along a center axis of the pipe.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to alarm systems. More particularly, embodiments relate to warning or alarm systems for alerting users of the undesirable presence of liquid (such as sewage) in a line (such as a sewer line or pipe). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Homes, offices and other buildings have one or more systems of pipes that are configured to channel wastewater from the building to a sewer system or septic tank. In a common configuration, one or more toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers may be connected to a main waste line which is connected to a drain line or lateral that is then connected to a septic system or to a public sewer line. The lateral or drain line may have one or more cleanout valves that allow maintenance access to the lateral or drain line. 
     Unfortunately, the drain line or lateral may become clogged or backed up. For example, in systems where a drain line or lateral (or portions thereof, such as the portions exterior to a foundation of a building) is formed of terracotta or clay pipe, the line is susceptible to cracking, separation, disturbance or blocking due to tree roots, soil shifting or settling, or the like. A drain line or lateral may also become clogged or blocked when certain items (such as tampons) are flushed down a toilet. When a drain line or lateral (or portion thereof) becomes clogged, cracked or otherwise blocked, the sewage or wastewater that should drain out to the septic system or sewer system backs up into the house or building. Often, the clog may cause a backup and then wastewater may overflow into the building from its nearest open low point. Such overflows or backups can be unpleasant, unhealthy and expensive to repair. Further, many sewer system backups are not covered under a typical homeowner&#39;s insurance policy, nor are they covered by flood insurance. 
     It would be desirable to provide an alarm system that alerts or warns a homeowner (or other individual or entity) of the undesirable or unexpected pending presence of fluid in a pipe such as an upper lateral pipe or other outflow pipe. Several potential solutions have been proposed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,950, a sewer blockage alarm is described which utilizes a pressure sensor switch mounted to the inside of a cap for a sewer clean out branch. U.S. Pat. No. 7,907,059 describes a similar alarm that is mounted in a cap of a pipe. Unfortunately, each of these systems requires that an alarm apparatus be mounted in a cap of a pipe (which assumes the building occupant or owner have access to a drain or clean out cap). Further, the inventor of the present invention has determined that placement of an alarm sensor device in a drain or cleaning pipe does not allow a pipe blockage to be detected sufficiently early enough to be corrected—instead, when a blockage is severe enough that wastewater is backing up to the cleaning pipe, a drain or other exit point (such as a toilet or the like), it is commonly too late for proactive maintenance action. 
     Canadian Patent No. 890926 (application number 1,261,940) describes a water backup alarm system which fits within a vertical pipe that leads to a sewer or septic system. The system is constructed of plastic material that fits entirely within a pipe. Unfortunately, installation of the system requires access to the interior of a pipe (such as, for example, through a cap or the like). Unfortunately, the system effectively reduces the interior dimensions of the pipe (which may result in blockage or obstruction of the pipe or a reduction in the capacity of the pipe). Further, the system requires that a user be able to access a section of pipe with a removable cap. Many homes or other buildings do not have drain systems with ready access to a suitable cap or section of pipe with a cap. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a sewer alarm system which does not require access to or removal of a cap or other plug or endpoint of a pipe or drain line. Further, it would be desirable to provide a sewer alarm system that is easily mounted or fitted on an existing drain line or lateral. Further still, it would be desirable to provide a sewer alarm system which does not substantially block or impair the flow of wastewater through the drain line or lateral. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a building and sewer line having a sewer alarm according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a further side elevational view of a sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side view of a portion of the sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side view of a portion of a pipe and the sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a portion of the sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of a portion of the sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a top portion of a housing of a sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  is a further view of a portion of the sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of the electronics of a sewer alarm according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  is a further view of a portion of the sewer alarm system according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments relate to alarm systems that are usable to detect the undesired presence of fluid in a pipe system. In some embodiments, alarm systems are provided to detect the undesired presence of wastewater in a sewage system. 
     A number of terms are used herein for convenience and ease of exposition. For example, the term “sewage system” will be used to refer to waste drainage systems, including septic and sewer systems. The term “drain line” is used to refer to a pipe, system of pipes, or other connectors that deliver wastewater from out of a building to a sewage system. A drain line may be a plastic (PVC or the like), metal, clay or other material. Embodiments may be used in both commercial and residential applications. 
     Features of some embodiments will now be described by reference to the drawings. Reference is first made to  FIG. 1 , where a sectional view of a building  102  is shown in which a sewer alarm system  110  pursuant to some embodiments has been installed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a building  102  is connected to a sewer line  104  via a section of underground pipe referred to herein as a lateral  116  and a second section referred to herein as drain line  108 . Often, the drain line  108  exits the building through a point in the foundation of the building  102 . Pursuant to some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  110  of the present invention may be located near the point where the drain line  108  exits the building  102  (as that point is the lowest point of the drain line  108  and provides a desirable location for identifying the presence of undesired wastewater). The drain line  108  may be connected to one or more other drain pipe systems  114  from within the building  102  (for example, the drain systems  114  may be connected to toilets, dishwashers, sinks, or other devices in the building  102 ). While only two drains  114  are shown, in a typical building multiple drain lines may feed into the drain line  108 . One drain line  108  is shown in  FIG. 1 , although those skilled in the art will appreciate that a building  102  may have more than one drain line to deliver wastewater to the lateral  116  for eventual delivery to a sewer or septic system. Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , the drain lines  114  may be connected to devices such as dishwashers, toilets, showers, bathtubs, or the like within the building  102 . 
     The drain line  108  exits the building (e.g., through a via in the foundation) and may have a cap or cleanout  106  which may, in some situations, be removed to allow cleaning materials from the drain line  108  or other access to the drain line  108  or the lateral  116 . Pursuant to some embodiments, a sewer alarm system  110  may be mounted on an exterior surface of the drain line  108  (or other line in the building  102 ) using a mounting system  112 . In some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  110  is positioned on a portion of a drain line  108  or other pipe in the building that is in communication with a lateral  116  or other pipe system that delivers wastewater to a sewer or septic system. In some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  110  is positioned on an existing exterior surface of a pipe or drain line that is substantially horizontal such that the alarm system  110  may detect the presence of undesired wastewater or fluid caused by a blocked or damaged pipe downstream from the area where the sewer alarm system  110  is mounted. In some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  110  may be positioned on an exterior surface of a pipe or drain line that is vertical or that otherwise provides a position allowing the sewer alarm system  110  to detect the presence of undesired wastewater or fluid caused by a blocked or damaged pipe downstream from the area where the system  110  is positioned. In some buildings, multiple sewer alarm systems  110  may be used to ensure early detection of blocked or clogged lines. Preferably, the sewer alarm system  110  is mounted on a pipe or drain line that is at or near a low exit point from the building  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sewer alarm system  110  is shown as being positioned horizontally, however the system  110  may be positioned vertically or in a semi-vertical or semi-horizontal position. In general, the system  110  is desirably mounted near the low point of the drain line near the point where the drain line  108  exits the foundation of the building  102 . 
     For example, in the system depicted in  FIG. 1 , the alarm system  110  is positioned in the basement of the building  102  near the egress of the drain pipe  108  through the foundation to the lateral pipe or line  116 . This position may provide desirable results with the alarm system  110  of the present invention as it allows relatively early detection of a potential blockage of the lateral  116  or drain pipe  108 . Further aspects of the positioning and installation of the alarm system  110  of the present invention will be described further herein by reference to the drawings that follow. 
     Sewer and other drain systems (such as shown in  FIG. 1 ) commonly suffer from clogged, blocked or broken pipes or drain lines which can cause wastewater to back up into a building. When such a system backs up, the wastewater can enter the building through one or more open drain pipes or fixtures, causing significant damage to the building as well as inconvenience to the occupants and the potential to spread undesirable mold and disease. Many older sewer and septic lines are constructed of clay or other pipes that are susceptible to root invasion from plants and trees. For example, tree roots thrive on the moisture and bacteria from a sewer line, and are often able to penetrate a pipe. As the root grows, it can snag waste and cause a backup or clog that can only be corrected by attempting to use a snake or other tool to clean or clear an interior of the pipe or by digging the pipe up. Further, many buildings have septic systems. These systems fail after a period of use (up to 2-3% of homes with septic tanks experience a failure each year). The sewer alarm system  110  of the present invention may be used to provide a warning of a potential failure as the backup of wastewater often precedes or is associated with a septic tank failure. 
     It is desirable to detect such backups or clogs early, before damage to the property occurs. Embodiments of the present invention provide a convenient and accurate way to provide early detection of the presence of such backups. As will be described further herein by reference to the drawings, embodiments provide a sewer alarm system that can be easily mounted on an existing pipe (such as a drain pipe  108  or the like) without need to retrofit the pipe or cap  106 . As a result, homeowners or maintenance personnel can easily install the sewer alarm system  110  of the present invention. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , where a side elevational view of a sewer alarm system  110  installed on a pipe  108  is shown according to some embodiments. For example, the pipe  108  may be a drain or discharge pipe from a building such as the building  102  of  FIG. 1 . As shown, in some embodiments, a sewer alarm system  110  is mounted on an exterior surface  132  of a pipe  108 . In some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  110  may be mounted to the exterior surface  132  using one or more straps  112 . For example, the straps  112  may be O-ring clamps or other devices that allow a shaped or contoured housing  128  of the sewer alarm system  110  to be securely mounted to the pipe  108 . In some embodiments, the shaped housing  128  of the sewer alarm system  110  includes a mounting portion at each end of the shaped housing  128  across which the straps  112  are positioned. In some embodiments, the shaped housing  128  is formed of a polyvinyl material or other shaped or molded material. The shaped housing  128  and the overall dimensions of the sewer alarm system  110  may be sized to match the type and/or size of pipe on which they are mounted. For example, in embodiments where the sewer alarm system  110  is to be used to detect potential blockages in a 4″ diameter pipe, the shaped housing  128  may be approximately 6-7″ long and 2.5″ wide (although a wide variety of different sizes and shapes may be used, so long as the housing is sized to enclose the electronics and the housing is shaped to fit the exterior of the pipe). In general, the shaped housing  128  should be formed such that it may have a bottom surface (the surface in contact with the exterior  132  of the pipe  108 ) that generally matches the curvature of the pipe  108 , thereby providing a more secure mount and coupling between the shaped housing  128  and the pipe  108 . Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, a gasket may be positioned between the shaped housing  128  and the exterior surface  132  of the pipe  108 . For example, in some embodiments, the gasket may be formed of foam or rubber, providing a water tight seal between the pipe  108  and the shaped housing  128 . The use of a gasket may also provide other desirable benefits. For example, the use of a gasket can allow a homeowner or other installer to tighten the shaped housing  128  onto the pipe  108  in a manner which doesn&#39;t harm the pipe  108  or the housing  128  and which assures the installer that the housing is tightly mounted onto the pipe  108 . 
     In some embodiments, the shaped housing  128  of the sewer alarm system  110  includes one or more covers such as an electronics cover  126  and a battery cover  134 . Each or all of the covers may be removably attached to the shaped housing  128  (e.g., using recessed screw mounts or the like), allowing access to the battery (in the case of the battery cover  134 ) and the electronics and speaker (in the case of the electronics cover). While two separate covers are shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , any number of covers may be used to provide convenient access to some or all of the components of the sewer alarm system  108 . 
     In some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  108  includes one or more switches  120 ,  122  as well as a speaker  124 . As will be described further below, the switches  120 ,  122  allow the sewer alarm system  108  to be activated or deactivated (e.g., using switch  120 ) and tested (e.g., using switch  122 ). The speaker  124  is selected to provide an audible alert when the presence of backed up wastewater is detected by the sewer alarm system  108 . While a speaker may be used, in some embodiments, as will be described further below, other alerting devices may also be used (such as, for example, lights, WiFi or cellular signals, or the like). For example, in some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  108  may placed in communication with an existing home alarm system such that a notice or other alert may be issued through the home alarm system when the presence of backed up wastewater is detected. In some embodiments, an external power source (as described below in conjunction with  FIG. 10 ) may be coupled to the alarm using a jack  127 . An external alarm (as described below in conjunction with  FIG. 10 ) may be coupled to the alarm system  110  using a alarm connector  136 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , where a further side elevational view of the sewer alarm system  110  installed on a pipe  108  is shown according to some embodiments. In the view shown in  FIG. 3 , the interior of the pipe  108  is shown in more detail, including details of the interior surface  130  of the pipe  108 . As shown, the shaped housing  128  of the sewer alarm system  110  is mounted on the exterior surface  132  of the pipe  108  and has a probe housing  140  that extends through the pipe  108  into the interior of the pipe. The probe housing  140  has a sloped or angled surface that is positioned such that the normal flow of wastewater through the pipe  108  flows across the sloped or angled surface of the probe housing  140 . For example, assuming the normal flow of wastewater through pipe  108  is indicated by the direction of arrow  150 . The probe housing  140  houses one or more probe elements  142  which are protected from detecting the presence of wastewater during normal flows (i.e., when wastewater is flowing lower in the pipe, such as in the direction of arrow  150 ). However, when the pipe (or downstream pipes such as a lateral) becomes blocked, and wastewater collects or accumulates near the probe housing  140 , the probe elements  142  are operated to trigger operation of the sewer alarm system  110  (e.g., to cause an alarm to sound, thereby alerting a home occupant or other entity of the possible blockage of the pipe system, as described below, the alarm that sounds may be an external alarm such as a home alarm system or it may be the alarm device mounted within the alarm system  110 ). 
     Further details of some embodiments of the probe housing  140  and shaped housing  128  of the sewer alarm system  110  are shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a view of a bottom surface  129  of the shaped housing  128  (where the bottom surface  129  is the surface that mounts on the exterior surface  132  of the pipe). As shown the bottom surface  129  is shaped to substantially match the outer dimensions of a pipe to allow a secure mounting surface. In some embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 4 , a gasket  131  is positioned between the bottom surface  129  and the outer surface of a pipe (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). The probe housing  140  extends from the body of the shaped housing  128  from the bottom surface  129 . For example, the probe housing  140  may be sized such that the probe elements  142  are exposed to an interior volume of a pipe  108  when the sewer alarm system  110  is mounted on the pipe  108 . For example, in the case where the pipe  108  has an exterior wall thickness of one-quarter inch (¼″), the probe elements  142  are positioned such that they extend (via a lip  143 ) more than ¼″ from the bottom surface  129  of the shaped housing  128  (that is, lip  143  may be more than ¼″ deep). This allows the probe elements  142  to be positioned such that they may be exposed to wastewater at the top of the wastepipe in the event of a backup. In some embodiments, the lip  143  may be longer (such as, for example, an inch in length), causing the probe housing to extend deeper within the interior of the pipe  108 . In some embodiments, such an extension may reduce false alarms or other issues which may be result if the probe elements are too near an interior surface of the pipe  108 . 
     The top surface  141  of the probe housing is shaped to form a recess protecting the probe elements  142  to prevent wastewater flowing downstream along the direction of arrow  150  from triggering an alarm. The probe housing may be formed of a smooth or other shape designed to reduce the chance of snagging waste as it travels downstream. 
     Further details of the probe housing  140  pursuant to some embodiments are shown in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , a section of a pipe  108  is shown in cross-section, with an alarm system mounted thereon. The shaped housing  128  of the alarm system is shown as mounted on an exterior surface  132  of the pipe  108 , and the probe housing  140  is shown as extending through a wall of the pipe  108  into the interior surface  130 . More particularly, the probe housing  140  is shown as generally triangular in cross section, with the lower edge of the triangle facing the direction from where wastewater typically comes (traveling in the direction of arrow  150  to the sewer system). The top surface  141  of the probe housing  140  generally directs wastewater away from the probes (which are housed and exposed in the area shown as  145 ). As shown, a lip  143  is sized such that it extends the main portion of the probe housing through the wall of the pipe  108 . The probe housing  140  may be shaped such that it has rounded edges to reduce the chance of unintentional snagging of waste as it travels downstream through the pipe  108 . 
     In some embodiments (such as an embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ), the probe housing  140  is not triangular in cross section but rather has a back edge  155  that is higher than a front edge  156 , where the back edge  155  is associated with the portion of the probe housing  140  that faces away from the normal flow of wastewater through the pipe  108 . The front edge  156  is formed and shaped to provide a flow of wastewater across the surface of the probe housing  140  without causing wastewater to collect near the probes when water is flowing in the normal flow through the pipe  108 . When wastewater backs up in the pipe (that is, when the flow of water is not along the normal direction of flow through the pipe), the wastewater may collect or accumulate near the back edge  155  (where the probes are exposed). In some embodiments, the probe housing  140  may further have one or more vents  157  or other features on a top surface of the housing  140  which are selected to allow air to escape from an interior of the probe housing  140 . Applicant has discovered that in some situations, when air bubbles or pockets are trapped within the probe housing  140 , the probes may not properly operate to detect wastewater. One or more vents  157  provide desirable results in allowing such air bubbles or pockets to be minimized or eliminated. 
     Pursuant to some embodiments, installation of the sewer alarm system  110  on a pipe  108  is a straightforward process. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the probe housing  140  is substantially circular in cross section. To install the alarm system  110 , a homeowner or maintenance person simply locates a suitable section of pipe  108  and drills or bores a single hole having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the probe housing  140 . In some embodiments, the sewer alarm system  110  is preferably mounted on a top portion of a pipe  108 . That is, the sewer alarm system  110  and the probe housing  140  are located on the portion of pipe  108  that is higher than the portion of pipe through which wastewater typically flows. That is, referring to  FIG. 5 , the wastewater typically flows along the bottom portion of the pipe, and the sewer alarm system  110  is mounted on a top portion of the pipe  108 . The probe housing  140  is then positioned proximate the hole and inserted through the pipe  108 . The shaped housing  128  is positioned such that it is proximate the exterior surface of the pipe and the straps  112  are tightened to secure the alarm system  110  to the pipe. In some embodiments, as described above, a gasket may be positioned between the shaped housing  128  and the exterior surface of the pipe to provide a seal. In some embodiments, the diameter of the hole bored is approximately 1 inch. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a view of the shaped housing  128  pursuant to some embodiments is provided. The shaped housing  128  may be formed with several sections, including two lips  129  which are positioned to receive straps  112  (not shown in  FIG. 6 , but shown in  FIG. 2 ) such that the straps  112  firmly secure the shaped housing  128  to the pipe  108 . The shaped housing  128  may also include a region for a battery  160  as well as a circuit board  162 . The circuit board  162  may be formed to provide electrical connections between the battery  160  and other components, including the switch  120  and speaker  124 . In some embodiments, other power sources may be provided and the battery  160  may be used as a backup power source. In some embodiments, other types of alerting devices may be used (in addition to, or instead of the speaker  124 ) such as, for example, a connection to an existing or other alarm system. In some embodiments, a test button or mechanism may also be used to allow a user to test or verify the operation of the alarm system  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a further view of the shaped housing  128  is shown (prior to installation of the circuit board  162 ). In particular, the shaped housing  128  and portions of the probe housing  140  are shown. The probe housing  140  is formed in a base of the shaped housing  128  and includes a barrier  149  formed around a circumference of the probe housing  140 . A divider or barrier  147  separates each probe  142  from the other and may be formed of the same material as the housing  128 . In some embodiments, the recesses formed by barrier  149 ,  147  may be filled with a semi-liquid gasket or sealant to prevent liquid from collecting around the probes  142 . For example, during a manufacturing process, the recesses formed by barrier  147 ,  149  may be filled with a glue or other waterproof sealant. For Electrical contacts for the probes  142  extend upward from the probe housing  140  for connection with the circuit board  162 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a further view of the electronics cover  126  and the battery cover  134  are shown. Each or all of the covers may be removably attached to the shaped housing  128  (e.g., using recessed screw mounts or the like), allowing access to the battery (in the case of the battery cover  134 ) and the electronics and speaker (in the case of the electronics cover). Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a further view of the shaped housing  128  is shown in a view that shows the underside of the shaped housing  128  including the bottom surface  129  of the housing as well as the gasket  131  that sits between the bottom surface  129  and the exterior surface of a pipe (not shown in  FIG. 9 ). The lip  143  of the probe housing is shown as extending a distance outward from the bottom surface  129 . As shown, the lip is formed in a cylindrical shape and is formed to extend the probe housing a distance into a pipe as described above. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the end of the probe housing is not shown (to allow illustration of the cylindrical shape of a portion of the housing that extends a distance into a pipe). 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 10 , where a block diagram  1000  is shown depicting certain components of some embodiments of the present invention. As shown, in some embodiments, the sewer alarm of the present invention includes a number of electrical components that together operate to provide an alert or alarm to a user (such as a homeowner, building owner, maintenance worker or the like) in the event of a clog or backup in a drain system. As depicted in  FIG. 10 , the components may include control circuitry  1004 , one or more power sources  1002 , one or more sensors  1006  and one or more alarms  1008 . Pursuant to some embodiments, the power sources  1002  may include one or more of a battery (e.g., such as a 9 Volt battery mounted in the shaped housing  128  of the alarm system) as well as an external power source. For example, the external power source may be provided by a wall adapter plug (such as, for example, a 9 Volt DC adapter). In some embodiments, a battery may be used as a backup power source and the external power source may be used as the primary power source. The power sources  1002  supply power to the control circuitry  1004 , the sensor(s)  1006  and the alarm(s)  1008 . In some embodiments, some portion of the power source(s)  1002 , control circuitry  1004 , sensor(s)  1006  and alarm(s)  1008  may be mounted on a circuit board contained within the shaped housing  128  of the alarm system. 
     In one example embodiment, switching between the power sources  1002  (e.g., such as switching from the external power source and the backup power source) may be controlled using a control circuit such as the Low Loss PowerPath Controller (manufacturer&#39;s part number LTC4412ES6#PBF) offered by Linear Technologies. Other suitable circuits may also be used with desirable results. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry  1004  may include circuitry that receives data from one or more sensor(s)  1006  and that controls the operation of one or more alarm(s)  1008 ,  1010  to alert homeowners, building owners, maintenance personnel or the like of the presence of potentially undesirable wastewater. A number of different circuits may be used to implement the functions of control circuitry  1004 . In one illustrative but not limiting example, the control circuitry  1004  may include a comparator such as, for example, an ultralow power quad comparator offered by Linear Technologies (e.g., such as manufacturer part number LTC1444IS#PBF). Other controllers, including, for example, microprocessor controllers, may also be used with desirable results. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more alarm (s)  1008  may include a speaker or other device which emits an audible tone when the presence of wastewater is detected by the sensor(s)  1006 . For example, one suitable speaker is part number PS-562Q offered by Mallory Sonalert Products, Inc., although a wide variety of other speakers or devices may be used with similarly desirable results. In some embodiments, in addition to an audible alarm, one or more visual alarms may also be utilized (e.g., such as an LED or other light source which is enabled when the sensor(s)  1006  detect the undesirable presence of wastewater). In some embodiments, the alarm(s)  1008  may include other forms of notification. For example, in some embodiments, the alarm(s)  1008  may include one or more remote alarm(s)  1010  which are activated via remote connection such as via a WiFi, Bluetooth or other network connection which causes an alert to be transmitted to a remote recipient. For example, in some embodiments, when the undesirable presence of wastewater is detected by the sensor(s)  1006 , an email, text message, or other notification may be transmitted from the alarm(s)  1008  to a remote recipient alerting the recipient of the presence of wastewater. In some embodiments, a cellular or other wireless connection may be provided to facilitate such communication. 
     Embodiments of a sewer alarm have been described herein in the context of identifying backups or potential backups in residential, commercial, industrial and other building applications, but it should be understood that other applications are possible. For example, embodiments may be used to detect the undesirable presence of fluids in other types of drainage systems. 
     The above description and/or the accompanying drawings are not meant to imply a fixed order or sequence of steps for any process referred to herein; rather any process may be performed in any order that is practicable, including but not limited to simultaneous performance of steps indicated as sequential. 
     Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.