Last time *I* checked, water meters, just like gas and electric meters, were installed on the EXTERIOR of a building. Hence, no need to demand entry to the house.
And there IS such a thing as RF sensitivity. Hell, I can tell when I’m near a high-tension line, and the same “spider-sense” saved an airman from microwave burns back when I wore the Blue Suit. . .
There are numerous arguments about “smart meters”, including the capability to reduce usage imposed externally on the consumer. That doesn’t even get into the well-observed conclusion that “smart” meters always show a significant increase in electrial usage over the perfectly-useful “manual-read” meters. . .
The water meter has been inside every house I ever lived in.
In cold country like Wisconsin you CAN’T put the water meter outside. It would freeze.