Monitoring, maintenance keep pools balanced, safe.(Hotel operations: pool maintenance)

Technology is putting an edge on pool maintenance for the lodging industry, but in some cases it still boils down to old-fashioned surveillance to make sure a pool has the proper chemical and chlorine levels.

At the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Fla., an on-site computerized controller is used by Ecolab to monitor chemicals and program adjustments through a computer-telephone-line hookup.

"It gives us remote real-time monitoring of everything, and it will fax over a message if we need to do something," said Steven Bukoski, the property's director of engineering.

Bukoski is considering upgrading to wireless so faster contact could be made through cell phones and other devices.

"There a few wireless systems installed now, and it gives you…