Wastewater monitoring system and method

Abstract

A wastewater monitoring system uses a camera in a fixed location in a wastewater pipe that takes a still photograph of a location of interest at defined intervals, such as five minutes. The photographs are retrieved from the camera, and are then analyzed on a computer system that aggregates the still photographs into a video stream, allows a user to define an area of interest on one of the still photographs, then uses suitable algorithms or heuristics to detect changes between the photographs in the video stream. Video clips of interest are then generated using the detected changes, and are identified to a user so the user can review the video clips of interest to determine flows in the wastewater pipe that was monitored.

1 . A housing for a camera comprising:
 a plurality of lenses;   at least one registration feature that orients the camera within the housing; and   at least one spacer to align a lens of the camera with one of the plurality of lenses on the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The housing of  claim 1  further comprising at least one threaded portion for mounting the housing to a direction orientation mechanism for pointing one of the plurality of lenses towards a location of interest. 
     
     
         3 . The housing of  claim 1  further comprising a cap that creates an air-tight and water-tight seal to protect a camera within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The housing of  claim 3  wherein the cap comprises a compartment for desiccant to dry the air in the interior of the housing.