Radio antennas intended to transmit data about pressure inside Santa Fe waterlines were removed last week as the city Water Division changes its plan.

Water-pressure monitoring equipment that included telemetry masts at 18 locations around the city was installed last year, but when some area residents objected to aesthetics, noise and potential health effects of the technology, councilors on the city Public Utilities Committee ordered the change.

Instead of using the wireless data-collection method, now the city will use buried telephone data lines to monitor valves in the underground water pipes. The monitoring system is needed to detect failures in valves that can otherwise cause major ruptures in water mains, division managers have said.

The design and equipment for the initial system with 25 planned telemetry sites cost the city about $811,000 said Robert Jorgensen, Water Division engineer. Construction of the modified underground wire system will add another $40,000 to city costs, and the final system will include only 17 monitoring sites. In addition, some equipment such as the antennas won't be used and will likely get sold for salvage, he said.

The city Water Division began working on the monitoring system in 2004, and secured elected officials' approval for its construction contract in 2007. Division Director Brian Snyder said even though councilors agreed to spend the money, now he's not sure how much they initially understood about the antennas.

"The Water Division typically deals with infrastructure that is buried," Snyder said. "During the design and initial stages of project construction, we overlooked the impacts of the above-grade infrastructure. We didn't put as much thought into the public notification as we should have."

Snyder said for future projects, the division will use a newly developed public-involvement process.

Guy Gronquist, who lives near Museum Hill, was among those to testify against the antenna project at the Public Utilities Committee. He said he found the monitoring stations "unsightly" and "hideous," and thought they detracted from the historic architecture in the city.

"I would certainly welcome warmly the replacement of the current monitoring stations even if it is initially going to come at cost," he said.

City councilors on the committee said they decided to order the antennas removed mostly because of compelling arguments about appearance. Several area residents also reached out to councilors because they were worried about the potential health affects of additional wireless broadcasting devices.

"That might have been icing on the cake," said Councilor Chris Calvert. "The visual was the overriding factor, but while we are at it, why take the chance that it would be a problem? It was sort of another factor."

Councilor Matthew Ortiz said staff worked out the solution of removing the antennas and were seeking the committee's approval. Councilor Rosemary Romero said the change of plans "addressed all the issues in an appropriate way."

The next step for the Water Division is to order new engineering plans for the underground system, then issue a revised construction contract for work that could be completed early next year.

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.