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Septic woes (3 / 12/99 , CHN) https //www . chapelhillnewsecom/Issues/ 1999/03 / 12/newsO2 , html The new proposal would include mandatory inspections within five years - - but only for those septic tanks near the Cane Creek, University Lake , and Hillsborough reservoirs . Under the plan, it could take up to 20 years before the majority of systems outside " critical " areas are inspected . And rather than a single bill at inspection time , the inspection costs might be covered by a smaller annual fee , supplemented by county tax money . But Brown stresses that this is very different from an earlier proposal that was vehemently protested by rural residents . " When this came up eight or nine years ago it was a very hot item in the county , because the proposal then was to inspect every tank in the county and charge everybody a fee , " said Brown . " We're not interested in doing county -wide . We 're interested in what would be high-risk. " " It all goes back to public health and welfare , and to protecting our water supply , " she said . The issue balances the needs of numerous city- dwellers , who often take their water service for granted, against the wishes of fewer rural residents - - who may acutely feel the regulations ' effects . As things now stand, Holdway said he is very familiar with the " fear and loathing of the septic inspector . " And, at a work session the county commissioners held Tuesday with the Board of Health, County Board Chair Alice Gordon observed that fear had to do with money -- beyond the inspection fee . " One issue . . . has to do with fear - - that the inspector will come out and find something wrong , and they ' ll have to pay a lot of money, " Gordon said . OWASA Board chair Dan VanderMeer wrote Gordon in January to say that the utility ' s directors are " particularly enthusiastic " about an initial focus on watershed areas . But County Commissioner Barry Jacobs , a former chair of the OWASA board, noted that the plan is likely to provoke protest from residents of the Cane Creek watershed owners , who consider that they 've gotten " all the burden and none of the benefits " of the Cane Creek reservoir . County manager John Link, who described himself as the " proud owner " of a septic tank, said the county should encourage people to start thinking of their septic systems as they would a utility . And he suggested that an annual fee , billed along with a tax bill , would help take the fear and loathing out of the current inspection " I ' m talking about having an OWASA approach, " Link said . Brown, Halkiotis and Holdway stressed the importance of educating rural residents about regular septic tank maintenance long before any inspections become mandatory - - especially given the air of mystery septic tanks can hold for many newcomers to Orange County . " The education part is key , " Brown said . David Schulman can be reached at 918 - 2022 ext . 377 or dschulma (a nando . com 2 of 3 3 / 12/99 1025 PM