Desert Water Agency has produced power through two hydroelectric generating plants since 1987. The Whitewater Hydroelectric Plant is in the Whitewater Canyon and the Snow Creek Hydroelectric Plant is located at Snow Creek. Our Snow Creek facility generates power from water flow from the creek, and our Whitewater facility generates power from water flow from the Colorado River Aqueduct. 

In 2024, DWA generated more than 5,920,230 kilowatt hours of renewable energy with the two hydroelectric plants. However, because they are dependent on stream flow and Colorado River water deliveries, energy generation can vary greatly from month to month. The water at both facilities is converted from hydraulic energy into electrical energy and then sold to offset the cost of importing water.  

After the water passes through the hydroelectric plants, it travels to our groundwater replenishment facilities where it soaks into the ground and replenishes the groundwater basin.