The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant: Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) in Las Vegas, Nev. SNHD was honored during the PHTA Awards of Excellence Reception at the 2025 International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Las Vegas, NV, on October 21, 2025.
Given in the memory of Dr. Robert Neil Lowry, a longtime member of PHTA and the Recreational Water & Air Quality Committee, this $5,000 grant honors a public health official or department who has made outstanding contributions to advance the public’s health and safe use of recreational water in pools, spas, and waterparks through educational, safety, operational, and technical programs.
SNHD is responsible for serving the Las Vegas metropolitan area, as well as all outlying municipalities in Clark County. This includes over 5,000 aquatic venues. Since 2024, SNHD has been implementing risk factor surveys to help inspectors assess the safety of these venues, including lifeguard staffing, bather load, equipment, and water treatment systems.
Conducting these surveys allows for improved working relationships between inspectors and aquatic facility operators, creating a more supportive environment. The results from the surveys lead to better protecting public health by reducing the number of violations and closures related to imminent health hazards and encouraging innovation in risk mitigation strategies throughout the community.
With the $5,000 grant, SNHD will expand the risk factor survey program to allow for a more thorough analysis of the data that can then be used to develop training materials for industry partners and enhance outreach efforts to aquatic facilities.
“The PHTA RWAQC was deeply impressed by SNHD’s risk factor survey program and its goals to ensure bather health and safety as well as improve coordination between operators and inspectors,” says Justin Wiley, PHTA Vice President of Government Relations, Standards, and Codes. “PHTA is proud to support SNHD in its efforts to expand this program and enhance aquatic experiences for its community members.”
Previous winners of the Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant include Central Valley Health District, 2024; Craven County Environmental Health, 2023; Fishers Health Department, 2022; and City of North Richland Hills, 2021.
For more information about the Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant, visit phta.org/lowry-grant.
