Homeowners who’ve been battered by double-digit increases in water and sewer bills for the last five years are about to catch a bit of a break — the city’s Water Board will today propose that the next hike be limited to 7.5 percent.

Officials at the Department of Environmental Protection said they took a number of steps to reduce expenses and increase revenues, such as moving to wireless meter readers, in an attempt to keep water bills down.

Mother Nature pitched in by producing a hot summer that increased water consumption last year by 3.4 percent, sending revenues up by 3 percent above projections.

Last year, the Water Board raised rates by 12.9 percent.

The last time rates weren’t boosted by double digits was in 2007, when bills went up 9.4 percent.

If approved after public hearings, the new rate would kick in July 1.

“Though any increase is hard on New Yorkers, we are clearly moving in the right direction and will continue to do everything we can to keep rates as low as possible,” said DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov.

david.seifman
@nypost.com