A gas turbine engine system, comprising: a gas turbine engine, comprising: a compressor; a combustor in communication with the compressor; and a turbine in communication with the combustor; a water wash system in communication with the gas turbine engine and configured to remove contaminants therefrom, the water wash system comprising: a plurality of valves (116,120,122,126,150,152,154,158) configured to control flows through the wash water system, the plurality of valves including a wash feed valve; and a plurality of sensors (136,144,162,174,184,186,188,248,264,282) configured to measure operating parameters of the wash water system, the plurality of sensors including a wash feed temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a feed flow; and a system controller in communication with the valves and the sensors and operable to automatically control the valves upon receiving operating parameter signals from the sensors in order to perform a wash of the gas turbine engine, characterized in that the system controller is operable to move the wash feed valve to an open position upon receiving a temperature signal from the wash feed temperature sensor indicating that the temperature of the feed flow is equal to or greater than a minimum threshold temperature. a gas turbine engine, comprising: a compressor; a combustor in communication with the compressor; and a turbine in communication with the combustor; a compressor; a combustor in communication with the compressor; and a turbine in communication with the combustor; a water wash system in communication with the gas turbine engine and configured to remove contaminants therefrom, the water wash system comprising: a plurality of valves (116,120,122,126,150,152,154,158) configured to control flows through the wash water system, the plurality of valves including a wash feed valve; and a plurality of sensors (136,144,162,174,184,186,188,248,264,282) configured to measure operating parameters of the wash water system, the plurality of sensors including a wash feed temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a feed flow; and a system controller in communication with the valves and the sensors and operable to automatically control the valves upon receiving operating parameter signals from the sensors in order to perform a wash of the gas turbine engine, characterized in that the system controller is operable to move the wash feed valve to an open position upon receiving a temperature signal from the wash feed temperature sensor indicating that the temperature of the feed flow is equal to or greater than a minimum threshold temperature. a plurality of valves (116,120,122,126,150,152,154,158) configured to control flows through the wash water system, the plurality of valves including a wash feed valve; and a plurality of sensors (136,144,162,174,184,186,188,248,264,282) configured to measure operating parameters of the wash water system, the plurality of sensors including a wash feed temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a feed flow; and a system controller in communication with the valves and the sensors and operable to automatically control the valves upon receiving operating parameter signals from the sensors in order to perform a wash of the gas turbine engine, characterized in that the system controller is operable to move the wash feed valve to an open position upon receiving a temperature signal from the wash feed temperature sensor indicating that the temperature of the feed flow is equal to or greater than a minimum threshold temperature.