Savannah residents say new smart water meters are overreporting usage; mayor responds

Savannah residents are reporting significant problems with newly installed smart water meters, but the issue also raises questions for health-conscious families about the broader rollout of smart utility infrastructure in their communities.

What's Happening in Savannah

Since the city began transitioning from manual to smart water meters in 2023, multiple residents have complained about dramatically inflated usage readings. Rachael Williams, a southside resident, reported her daily water usage jumped from 50-200 gallons to nearly 600 gallons per day after her smart meter was installed in early 2025. On one day when her family was mostly away from home, the meter allegedly recorded over 3,000 gallons of usage. Williams hired a plumber who found no leaks.

After posting about the problem on Facebook, Williams said she received over 100 responses within hours from residents across the city—spanning midtown, downtown, apartments, and rental homes—reporting identical issues. Mayor Van Johnson has acknowledged the complaints and said the city will review individual cases where meter errors may be the cause.

Why This Matters for Health-Conscious Families

While this story focuses on billing accuracy, the broader deployment of smart meters raises questions that many health-conscious homebuyers are asking about wireless infrastructure. Smart meters typically use radiofrequency (RF) signals to transmit data, and some families prefer to minimize RF exposure in their living environments—particularly near bedrooms where meters are often located on exterior walls.

If you're evaluating a home with smart meters or other wireless utility infrastructure, it's worth understanding the technology involved. Unlike many common myths about 5G and EMF, smart meter emissions are generally lower-powered and less frequent than cell phones, but they do represent another source of RF in the home environment. Distance is your friend: EMF exposure decreases significantly with distance from the source.

For families wanting to reduce exposure, solutions like EMF shielding paint can be considered for walls adjacent to utility meters, though the practical necessity depends on individual comfort levels and exposure priorities.

Savannah residents experiencing billing issues can contact the city's Smart Water Meter Team at smartmeter@savannahga.gov. For homebuyers, this story is a reminder to ask municipalities about their smart meter policies, opt-out options, and complaint resolution processes before purchasing property.

Originally reported by WTOC