Jul 7 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Erin Ailworth The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.

Cooking breakfast, running the air conditioner, turning on lights -- each uses energy. And, as more people move into the area, more energy is used.

That's why Progress Energy officials say they have asked the St. Johns River Water Management District to increase the amount of water its DeBary power plant can draw from underground sources.

The water, taken from two wells beneath the power plant, is used to run four turbines that help control air pollution.

But some people are concerned that the request, if approved, will strain Florida's underground water source and cause local irrigation problems.

Progress Energy officials, however, say the amount of water they want to use isn't that much.

The company is allowed to draw up to 57.7 million gallons annually and wants to increase it to nearly 80 million gallons a year to handle growth.

The DeBary power plant is what's known as a "peaking site," said Mark Tylec, a Progress Energy environmental specialist who works at the plant. It operates only during those times of the day that energy usage peaks -- such as early morning, when people shower and make breakfast. When this happens, Progress Energy's so-called "base load" plants, which operate 24 hours a day, can't handle the demand, so energy is taken from the auxiliary peaking sites.

The company currently serves about 1.6 million customers in 35 counties, spokesman C.J. Drake said.

Each year, as more people move into the state and use energy, the peaking sites get more use -- meaning they also use more water to help control pollution.

In 2005, the plant used 53.3 million gallons, Drake said. That's close to the 57.7 million-gallon limit -- especially considering the 35,000 new customers the company took on last year.

"Between the increase in electricity usage and the influx of new customers in Florida . . . this [water request] is in anticipation of future growth and to meet our customers' needs," Drake said. "Our request represents just a fraction of what a water utility would use for its customers."

Progress Energy is asking to draw just under 80 million gallons of water annually, or 219,000 gallons daily. That's a 38.6 percent increase from the amount it is currently allowed to pump from the aquifer, the underground source of water.

That worries DeBary resident Neil Coppens, who lives on Rosedown Boulevard near the power plant.

Coppens, 74, said he learned about the request for additional water when he received a letter this week stating that Progress Energy wanted to renew a permit with the St. Johns River Water Management District. The permit expires in September, and Progress Energy's request is under review.

Coppens, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the City Council last year, said he is concerned about straining the aquifer, especially after his well-fed sprinkler system already went dry once last year.

He called a company to inspect the problem and said he was told "well, we keep track of that aquifer and we'll be back in two years because it's going down."

In the end, Coppens said, he spent $1,400 to "go down another 20 feet to get water."

Environmental activist Michele Moen, with the Volusia Citizens Alliance for Responsible Growth, also said she is worried because the aquifer is "not in good shape right now."

Moen said she was unaware of the specifics of Progress Energy's permit request, but said she thinks county and state officials need to change the way they think about and respond to growth-related issues.

"At some point we have to wake up and stop saying we must accommodate growth," Moen said.

Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@orlandosentinel.com or 386-851-7925.