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Owners of the Mayfield Inn and Suites in Edmonton, Alta., were charged under the Public Health Act for failing to maintain automated chemical feeding and monitoring equipment for pH and chlorine levels.

The Mayfield Inn and Suites and three employees received more than $20,000 in fines from Edmonton's provincial court after admitting failure to properly maintain the hotel's swimming pool and sauna amenities.

Silverbirch No. 3 Holdings Ltd., owners of the hotel, plead guilty to 10 counts under the Public Health Act. According to a report in the Edmonton Journal, charges ranged from failing to maintain automated chemical feeding and pH monitoring equipment and chlorine levels to failure to repair or upgrade deteriorating equipment.

Officials at Alberta Health Services had kept a close eye on the Mayfield Inn since its first offence in January 2008, when high bacteria levels were discovered in the hotel's spa. Over the next 18 months, inspectors paid regular visits to deal with other issues, which included the issuing and rescinding of numerous closure orders.

Under the court-issued penalties, Silverbirch was fined $18,515, while the facility's former general manager was handed a $1,897 fine after pleading guilty to allowing unqualified personnel to operate the hotel's pool, spa, steam room and sauna. The Mayfield's maintenance supervisor/pool operator received a $1,725 fine for failing to maintain proper chlorine levels in the pool and spa, while the athletic club manager was fined $1,150 for improper steam room maintenance.

Hotel owners say they have since developed new rules of conduct and are properly training and certifying staff members. Areas in need of repair have been upgraded and a commercial pool and spa service company has been hired to maintain the hotel's facilities.