City to allow opt-out from new smart water meters with doctor’s note

City council has decided to offer special accommodations to some people who fear they would suffer negative health effects from new smart water meter signals, once the devices are installed in Winnipeg.

City staff recommended no option for residents to opt out of the program. However, on Thursday, city council cast a final vote that directs the public service to “present alternative options” for people who provide proof of a medical exemption linked to the radio-frequency transmissions emitted by the devices, such as a letter signed by a registered Canadian doctor.

Coun. Ross Eadie, chairman of the water and waste committee, raised a successful motion for the change, which the majority of council supported.

“If you have that medical exemption… the antenna will be disabled, transmission will be disabled, but a smart meter will be installed … Anybody who has the antenna transmission disabled, will, every certain period, have to call in an actual reading,” said Eadie (Mynarski).

The councillor acknowledged the change may require city staff to continue to provide some manual water readings, instead of having all meters read remotely following the technology upgrade.

“There (are) trade-offs for accommodating (people)… They may have to send someone in (to check the actual readings) if it looks (a ratepayer’s) consumption suddenly changed,” said Eadie.

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.

City staff have repeatedly noted that Health Canada states there are no health risks from exposure to the smart meter signals.

Coun. Jeff Browaty, who voted against the exemption plan, said he believes that expert advice should be followed.

“Winnipeg city council is not the proper body to determine the safety of electronic communications technologies,” said Browaty (North Kildonan). “If Health Canada… and the various agencies that are out there to protect us say that they are safe, I’m really not in a position to be determining otherwise.”

The finance chairman said he’s concerned the changes will add operating costs for the city, due to the need for some manual readings.

The decision follows pleas from some residents for an opt-out program, since they blame health ailments on the transmissions, such as headaches, sleep difficulties, ear ringing and nausea.

“A lot of people get headaches and they can’t sleep. And that’s one of the problems with these meters is that they’re in the home and people are exposed all the time,” said Margaret Friesen.

Friesen welcomed the final vote on medical exemptions and urged the city to periodically check meters to ensure they aren’t transmitting signals.

“I’m very happy and relieved that this has gone through. This is much needed, so it really does alleviate the stress of people who do have a medical exemption,” she said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga