Santa María Dam
| Santa María Dam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Planta Hidroeléctrica Santa María |
| Location | Zunil (Quetzaltenango) |
| Opening date | 1927 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Samalá River |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 215,500 m3 |
The Santa María Dam (Spanish: Planta Hidroeléctrica Santa María) is a reinforced concrete gravity dam and power plant spanning the Samalá River in Zunil, Escuintla, Guatemala.[1]
The dam's reservoir has a total capacity of 215,500 m3.[1] The water is transported to the powerhouse through 614 m long pressure pipe.[1] The plant has 3 different turbines (1 × 2.48 MW and 2 × 2.2 MW) with a total installed capacity of 6.88 MW. The plant has a level declination of 101 m, and a designed flow of 2.35 m3/s for unit 1 and 2, and 2.42 m3/s for unit 3.[1]
The plant started operating in 1927 and produces annually 38 GWh of electrical power.[1]