YORKSHIRE'S water chiefs believe they can avoid water meters being forced on homes.
They were speaking after a landmark ruling gave a Kent water company powers to install compulsory meters.
The move came as the South-East faces major droughts after two dry winters.
Industry experts believe other water companies will follow suit.
But a Yorkshire Water spokes- woman said: "Water resources in our region are just a few per cent below the expected level for the time of year.
"As such, we do not expect to enforce compulsory meters."
Folkestone and Dover Water Services in Kent have been given `water scarcity status' by Environment Minister Elliot Morley.
In a written statement he said: "In many parts of the country water is a precious resource which we can no longer simply take for granted."
The move is highly controversial because critics see it as rationing by price - with a third of households facing higher water bills.
The Yorkshire Water spokeswoman urged customers to use water wisely.
She said: "Over the last 10 years we have reduced leakage by over 40% and invested heavily in the water grid system.
"This means we can transport water throughout the region.
"But we are not complacent and will continue to monitor the situation."
Major house-building programmes are putting extra strain on the South and East.
The Government's Environment Agency announced last week that it favoured compulsory metering in southern England.
When Labour was in opposition it fiercely opposed compulsory water metering, calling it a "tax on family life".
Some tips to help keep your water bills down:
* Replace washers on dripping taps. Dripping taps can waste more than half a litre of water every 10 minutes
* Use a bucket of water rather than a hosepipe to wash your car.
* Don't leave the tap running when you are brushing your teeth. It wastes 10 litres of water each time.
* Take showers rather than baths; they use three times less water.
* Collect water in a butt and use it to water your plants and wash your car.
