NEW rules allowing water companies to introduce compulsory meters are unlikely to be enforced in Suffolk, Anglian Water bosses said today.The government is changing the rules to allow compulsory water meters to be installed throughout southern England in areas likely to face “serious water stress.

NEW rules allowing water companies to introduce compulsory meters are unlikely to be enforced in Suffolk, Anglian Water bosses said today.

The government is changing the rules to allow compulsory water meters to be installed throughout southern England in areas likely to face “serious water stress.”

This includes the area served by Anglian Water - but other measures it has introduced should enable it to avoid compulsion.

Company spokesman Andrew Mackintosh said: “We don't see that this change will affect us because we already have so many water meters installed.

“The national average is that 30 per cent of homes have meters, but in the Anglian area the figure is 60pc. All new homes have meters installed and in an area around Ipswich meters are currently being installed to all homes.

“In that area when the home is sold the meter will automatically be activated.”

Mr Mackintosh said the company had been successful in persuading people to accept meters and in cutting down leaks in its network.

He said: “That means that we haven't had any restrictions for many years and we hope that will continue without the need for compulsion.”