[Avodah] If you have an electronic water meter, can you turn on your faucet on Shabbos?

[Lisa Liel]

On 7/18/2012 6:28 AM, Marty Bluke wrote:
> In an interesting letter in yesterday's Yated Neeman a writer brought 
> up this issue. He claimed that in some places in Israel they have 
> installed electronic water meters and therefore you can't use the 
> water on Shabbos. He wanted to warn people who are planning a vacation 
> to keep this in mind when picking a destination.
>
> It would seem that the letter writer is right about the problems of 
> using water on Shabbos if you have an electronic water meter. Every 
> time you turn on the water you are directly causing the electronic 
> water meter to record your use which falls under the general rubric of 
> electricity.

I can't imagine that this should matter.  It's not b'ein, it's not nicha 
lei.  We might as well say that the Butterfly effect means we can't move 
at all on Shabbat because of the consequent effects our motions might have.

Lisa