The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is proposing a 3.9 hike in the wholesale price of water and sewer service next year.
The agency says the proposal would mean a $17 hike in the annual bill for households that use the average 61,000 gallons per year.
An agency spokeswoman says the increase in individual homeowner bills will vary, depending on how much water the homeowner uses and how local water departments decide to pass on costs to ratepayers.