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Newer septic tanks have better filtration and funnel less solid waste to underground drainfields, which means less sewage would leach into groundwater and the lagoon, said Zorc, a longtime builder. Still, even well-functioning systems can pollute the lagoon if they were built too close to the water, Zorc said. In that case, the household should connect to a ce ntral sewer. The main snag is cost, Zorc said. Baker said there are loan programs that let people pay for sewer connections over time at a lower interest rate. So fees should not be a barrier, he said. County and city programs differ. County residents close enough to sewer lines to hook up would pay coul d pay the $2,800 connection fee over five years at a 5.75 percent interest rate, said Cindy Corrente, county utilities manager. About 3,000 households in Vero Beach's service area are on septic, but only 10 have access to city sewer, so the rest would need to pay $15,000 -plus to have new lines installed, said Rob Bolton, the city's water and sewer director. These customers could spread the payments throughout 20 years while paying interest at about the pri me rate, Bolton said. G rants also might be available to help homeowners pay for upgrades or to hook to a municipal sewer if it protects a major water resource, Zorc said, adding he will ask water management officials, state lawmakers and congressional leaders about possible grants. H owever, state Sen. Joe Negron, R -Stuart, said he's not inclined to change people's methods for sewage disposal or pursue state and federal grants to pay for the changes. He said he voted to repeal the state law r equiring septic tank inspections, believing it was undue government intrusion. N egron, who spearheaded a state Senate committee to study the lagoon's ills, said he. wants to concentrate on restoring the Everglades and counteri ng the harmful effects of Lake Okeechobee re leases. Still, he is willing to listen to LaPointe, whom U.S Rep. Patrick Murphy, D -Jupiter, invited to speak about septic pollution at the committee's Aug. 22 meeting in Stuart.