MASON CITY – As the city moves forward installing thousands of “smart” water meters that have some people concerned about the health affects they may pose, city staff is preparing a presentation for the next council meeting.
NorthIowaToday.com reported last week that Mason City is actively pursuing the installation of over 11,000
Neptune radio read meters, which allows for reading via a handheld or a computer. The meters give off a radio transmission pulse, and some in Mason City worry that the “smart” water meters have grave health implications and are not safe. These concerns have been brought to city hall, and, quietly, a number of citizens have been promised “opt-outs” (NIT has been shown city documents proving the opt-out). This means that these citizens would not be required to allow the city to install the Neptune smart water meter in their home (typically in the basement) but may be subject to a fee, perhaps monthly.
City staff are working on a city-wide opt-out provision and a more uniform policy to govern the installation of the meters that would be available to all water customers.
NIT questioned elected leaders, including the mayor and council members, about what they plan to about the water meter issue. According to city administrator Brent Trout, “there will be a presentation regarding the water meter program at the next council meeting on August 18, 2015.” He divulged no further information on the matter.
As the city plans their presentation, more information will likely be made available by some concerned citizens on the potential health impact of “smart” meters and the radio frequency (RF) “pulse” emitted from them. More on this developing situation to come.
Read previous story on the “smart” water meters in Mason City.
It should be an interesting presentation.