Few people realise when they fill a spa bath and lie back to enjoy the relaxing hydrotherapeutic effects of the warm, agitated water, that they are potentially exposing themselves to dangerous bacteria. The accumulation of soap film, hair, dead skin, body oil, dirt and faeces in the piping system increases nutrient load and creates ideal conditions for bacterial survival and multiplication. The rapid growth of the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in spa baths, which are commonly installed in modern motel rooms and even domestic homes, has the potential to cause cardiac, central nervous system, ear, eye, bone and joint, urinary tract, respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin and soft tissue infection. A case of folliculitis prompted an environmental health investigation that identified a spa bath in a Newcastle motel as a possible source. The spa bath and piping system water was sampled and high levels of P. aeruginosa were detected. The system was decontaminated and a cleaning and maintenance program established with the assistance of water treatment professionals. A sampling program also commenced to monitor the efficacy of the maintenance program. As a result of the investigation, a survey commenced to determine the water quality in randomly selected spa baths installed in motel and bed and breakfast establishments in the Hunter Region of New South Wales (NSW). Water samples were collected from spa piping systems and high concentrations of bacteria including P. aeruginosa were commonly found. Where pseudomonas was detected or total plate counts were above 100 colony forming units per millilitre, systems were decontaminated and a cleaning and maintenance program commissioned with the assistance of a water treatment professional. A sampling program regularly to monitor water quality was also recommended. There is a clear need for a strong partnership between health agencies, motels and water treatment industries to establish uniform cleaning and maintenance procedures to ensure safe spa baths.