City staff recommend against opt-out program for smart water meters
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When the city’s future smart water meters are installed, homeowners and businesses might have no choice but to accept them.
Last year, city staff were expected to create an opt-out program for the new devices after some residents expressed concerns the radio-frequency transmissions would pose health risks and pose a threat to privacy.
All other residents would receive devices that can be read remotely using radio transmitters.
A city report now calls for council’s water and waste committee to rule out any opt-out program.
The “transmitters send out radio frequency signals, similar to many household devices. These data bursts are typically short (less than one second) and infrequent,” the report states. “Health Canada states that ‘there are no health risks from (this) exposure.’”
Offering an opt-out program would likely require additional city staff to maintain old meters, which would cost the city about $235,000 to $252,000 per year, the report states.
Homeowners could pay to have antennas installed outside their homes at their own expense, it notes.
During public meetings last year, those who opposed the meters expressed concerns about privacy and health, linking the devices to headaches, sleep difficulties, ear ringing, nausea and other ailments.
The city’s $135-million project to switch from manual to smart meters is expected to result in much more accurate readings and avoid sudden skyrocketing bills because of leaks. The city plans to install the new devices between 2026 and 2030.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
