[1] Water is carried by the 28 kilometres (17 mi) long Canal Lauca to the plant[1] and drops over a distance of 1,008 metres (3,307 ft)[5] to produce electrical power through two 5.1 megawatt Pelton turbines.

The water is held in a reservoir after exiting the plant before being discharged[1] into the Quebrada Cosapilla; from there it flows into the Rio Seco and eventually into the San José River.

[1]Studies on the possibility to use the Lauca River as a water source for the Azapa Valley were made after 1945;[13] during planning of the diversion the idea rose to use the drop at Chapiquiña for hydropower generation.

[5] It was also planned to augment the water supply to the plant by pumping water from Lake Chungara, but in 1985 the Supreme Court of Chile disallowed such pumping for environmental reasons as Lake Chungara is located in the Lauca National Park.

Caso Central Chapiquiña, Región de Arica y Parinacota, Chile (Thesis) (in Spanish).