The New York City Water Board has unanimously approved a 2.1 percent increase in the city’s water and sewer rates, effective July 1, 2016.

In April, Mayor de Blasio had announced that the city would stop charging the water board, which leases the water and sewer system from city government, an annual rental payment. The elimination of the payment saves the water board $244 million in the coming fiscal year. To offset the increase in water and sewer rates, the mayor proposed and the board approved a $183 credit to water customers who own one-to-three-family homes. As a result the benefits of this credit exclude owners of large buildings and rent-stabilized buildings.