02-08-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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vary. e 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www.ci.littic- canada.mn.us Wanab MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council FROM: Bill Dircics, Public Works Superintendent DATE: November 17, 2011 RE: Alternate Water Meter Systems MAYOR hill nlesencr COUNCIL Rick Montour John Kcis Michael McGraw Shelly nays ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. 1- Janson A resident raised concerns with having a fixed- network water meter installed in her home due to potential health effects from the radio waves emitted by the transmitter to communicate the readings. The City of'St. Paul had a group of residents with similar concerns and developed a policy for alternate metering systems. Staff feels the City Council should adopt a similar policy for residents who are uncomfortable with the fixed - network meters. Much of the information cited in this memo is taken from an article published by the World Health Organization in May 2006. It is also attached for your review. The fixed- network water meter system the City will be installing functions using radio frequency (RF) signals. The radio transmitter at each house and business transmits each reading to a collector that is on top of the water tower. The system operates at 457 MHz. The radio transmitters only transmit information four times a day. The system is not always on and transmitting. Four times a clay it activates and transmits information to the data collector. Each instance lasts less than one second. So over the course of one day there is only about one second of total time when the transmitter is emitting radio waves. Many different forms of wireless technology exist in the world today including radio, television, cell phones, wireless routers, and microwaves. All of these forms of technology transmit radio waves. The frequencies vary from 100 MHz (FM radio stations) to 300 -400 MHz (television broadcasting) to 800 -900 MHz (cell phones). All of these devices have been in existence for many years without any adverse health consequences being established. Fixed- network meter systems are not any more powerful than any of these other wireless technologies. Some people are concerned with the long -term health effects of exposure to RF signals. As of 2006, the only health effect identified in scientific reviews has been an increase in 3