Pressure has been put on Essex water companies to install compulsory water meters in homes across the region.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has identified Essex as a "water stress area" and advised Essex and Suffolk Water to install meters quickly to cope with shortages.
The water company will be given new powers to enforce metering by 2009.
However, Martin Lunn, scientific and water resources manager for Essex and Suffolk Water, said it had no intention of making metering mandatory.
He said: "We don't intend to compulsorily meter our customers. The reason is we currently meter anyone free of charge if they want one and, when people change properties, we take the opportunity to meter the property they are moving into.
"That seems broadly acceptable to the public.
"But if people live in a house for 40 years and are suddenly forced to have a meter, it wouldn't go down well with our customers."
Mr Lunn said 40 per cent of the company's customers were already on meters and they expected this to rise to 60 per cent by 2015, particularly as all newly-built houses have them fitted.
He added: "People over-estimate how effective meters are. We believe they make a difference, but it's not enough to stop us developing new resources."
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