本文讨论了一个四步计划，以帮助公用事业公司制定、实施和评估各个冲洗计划的有效性，包括:确定冲洗作为公用事业公司维护计划一部分的适当性；规划和管理冲水项目；实施冲洗程序和数据收集；评估和修改冲洗程序。公用事业公司不应该依靠冲洗来治疗慢性疾病。为永久防止某些类型的水质恶化，可能需要进行充分的水源水处理。如果与其他预防性维护实践结合进行，冲洗可能不需要大幅增加运营/维护预算。冲洗方法、速度、频率和持续时间将取决于各个水质问题、水力条件、水源水处理和系统设计。 公用事业公司应根据具体水质目标选择冲洗速度。对速度、持续时间和频率的实验应该是冲洗改进计划的一部分。规划、公开通知和与利益相关者的沟通应该是所有冲洗项目的一个强制性方面。冲洗之前、期间和之后的数据收集对于了解冲洗的好处、成本和二次影响至关重要。如果没有收集到足够的数据，则无法进行项目细化和成本/效益分析。

This paper discusses a four-step program to assist utilities with developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of individual flushing programs that includes: determining the appropriateness of flushing as part of a utility maintenance program; planning and managing a flushing program; implementing a flushing program and data collection; and, evaluating and revising a flushing program. Utilities should not rely on flushing as a cure for chronic problems. Adequate source water treatment may be necessary to permanently prevent certain types of water quality deterioration. If conducted in conjunction with other preventative maintenance practices, flushing may not require drastic increases in operating/maintenance budgets. The flushing approach, velocity, frequency, and duration will be specific to individual water quality concerns, hydraulic conditions, source water treatment, and system design. Utilities should select a flushing velocity based on specific water quality objectives. Experimentation with velocities, duration, and frequency should be part of a flushing refinement program. Planning, public notification, and communication with stakeholders should be a mandatory aspect of all flushing programs. Data collection before, during, and after flushing is imperative to understanding the benefits, costs, and secondary impacts due to flushing. If adequate data are not collected, program refinement and a cost/benefit analysis can not be conducted.