Privacy Policy - Fort Collins - Loveland Water District

FCLWD ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY

August 31, 2024

Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (“FCLWD” or “District”) values your privacy and are committed to keep your data secure. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) will help you understand how we collect and use personal information from those who visit our website fclwd.com (“website”) or make use of our online facilities and services, and what we will and will not do with the information we collect. Our Policy has been designed and created to ensure those affiliated with FCLWD of our commitment and realization of our obligation not only to meet, but to exceed, most existing privacy standards.

Who we are

Our website address is fclwd.com (“Our Website”).

Changes to our Privacy Policy

As we continually improve our website, we may need to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. To make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, we recommend you frequently visit this page. If at any point in time FCLWD decides to make use of any personally identifiable information on file, in a manner vastly different from that which is stated, the user or users will be notified by email.

This Policy applies to FCLWD, and it governs all data collection and usage by us. By using our website, or any app that you may download from our website you are consenting to the data collection procedures, use, and retention standards as expressed in this Policy.

Please note that this Policy does not govern the collection and use of information by companies that FCLWD does not control nor by individuals not employed or managed by us. If you visit a website that we mention or link to, be sure to review its privacy policy before providing the site with information. It is highly recommended that you review the privacy policies and statements of any website you choose to use to better understand the way in which websites make use of and share the information collected.

What this Privacy Policy Covers

This Policy will inform you of the following:

  1. What information is collected from you through our website and how we collect it.
  2. Why we collect personally identifiable information and the legal basis for such collection.
  3. How we use the collected information, how long we store it, and with whom it may be be shared.
  4. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your information.
  5. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information.

What Information We Collect and How We Collect It

It is always up to you whether to disclose personally identifiable information to us, although if you elect not to do so, we reserve the right not to register you as a user or provide you with services.

This site will only collect personal information that you knowingly and willingly provide to us by way of surveys, forms, emails, and transactions. It is the intent of this site to use personal information only for the purpose for which it was requested, and any additional uses specifically provided for in this Policy.

We collect Information about you when you:

  • Register online or request services.
  • Choose to pay your bill online via our third-party provider.
  • Voluntarily complete a customer survey or fill out a form. (Examples of forms include but are not restricted to: Tap Application. Request for meter installation, meter relocation, meter unlock, hydrant meter, water assignment, transfer of ownership or contact form asking us to contact you), or provide feedback to us through email, or leave a comment. This information may include your name, email address, telephone number, and /or account number. This can also include any other information that is defined as personal or personally identifiable information under applicable laws.
  • Use or visit our website via your browser’s cookies, web beacons or other tracking technologies. This information may include the details about your internet connection, location data, other communication data, the equipment you use to access our website and usage details, IP address, browser type, or operating system. This information will assist us in understanding our visitor traffic and providing and maintaining superior quality service through our website.
  • While we don’t collect personally identifiable information from cookies, we may combine this information to personal information about you that we collect from other sources, or you provide to us.

Cookies

  • Unless you specifically block cookies, our system will issue cookies when you browse our website. We will first check if your browser accepts cookies. Some cookies are only session based and are cleared when you leave our site. Some cookies are set on your computer for your convenience so we can recognize you when you return and remember your preferences.
  • You can refuse to accept browser cookies by blocking cookies in your browser. This can be set by following your specific browser settings.

Why We Collect Information

We are collecting your information for several reasons:

  • To better understand your needs and provide you with the services you have requested.
  • To send you information about the District in the form of quarterly emails, when we have your consent to do so.
  • To contact you for surveys for research purposes to understand our customers better.
  • To recognize when you return and customize our website according to your online behavior and personal preferences.
  • To notify you of critical service updates that impact your area.
  • To enforce or apply our terms of use and other agreements, including for billing and collection purposes.

How Long We Store Your Information

Your information will be stored for no longer than necessary. The length of time we retain information will be determined based upon the following criteria: the length of time your personal information remains relevant, the length of time it is reasonable to keep records to demonstrate that we have fulfilled our duties and obligations; any limitation periods within which claims might be made; any retention periods prescribed by law or recommended by regulators, professional bodies or associations; the type of contract we have with you, the existence of your consent, and our legitimate interest in keeping such information as stated in this Policy.

How We Use Your Information

 FCLWD collects and may make use of your personal information so that we can:

  • Assist in the operation of our website and to ensure delivery of the services you need and
  • To use personally identifiable information as a means to keep you informed of information that we deem relevant to you.
  • To contact with you with regards to completing surveys and/or research questionnaires related to your opinion of current or potential future services that help us understand our customers better.
  • FCLWD may feel it beneficial to occasionally contact you on behalf of our other external business partners with regards to a potential new offer which may be of interest to If you consent or show interest in presented offers, then at that time, specific identifiable information such as name, email address and/or telephone number may be shared with the third party.
  • We reserve the right to contact you, if needed, for non-marketing purposes (such as water alerts in your area, account issues, and/or changes in our services or rates). In certain circumstances we may use our website, newspapers, or other public means to post a notice.

Third Party Sites

FCLWD uses various third-party social media features including but not limited to https://www.faccbook.com/FCLWD/ and other interactive programs. These may collect your IP address and require cookies to work properly. These third-party services are governed by the privacy policies of the providers and are not within FCLWD’s control.

Disclosure of Information

FCLWD may disclose personal information that we collect, or you provide as described in this Policy. This includes:

  • Purposes we deem as necessary to provide services you have ordered.
  • With our contractors, service providers and other third parties we use to support our services. These third parties are prohibited from making use of your personal information other than to deliver those services which you requested, and as such they are required in accordance with this agreement, to keep your information secure and
  • In other ways described in this Policy or to which you have otherwise consented.
  • In the aggregate with other information in such a way so that your identity cannot reasonably be determined.
  • As required by law, or in response to a subpoena or search warrant.
  • To outside auditors who have agreed to keep the information confidential.
  • As necessary to enforce the Terms of Service.
  • As necessary to maintain, safeguard and preserve all the rights and property of the FCLWD.
  • With selected business partners to facilitate special discounts for selected products available only to our customers, such as Rachio smart sprinkler controllers.

Children under the age of 13

FCLWD’s website is not directed to and does not knowingly collect personal identifiable information from children under the age of thirteen (13). If it is determined that such information has been inadvertently collected on anyone under the age of thirteen (13), we shall immediately take the necessary steps to ensure that such information is deleted from our system’s database or in the alternative, that verifiable parental consent is obtained for the use and storage of such information. Anyone under the age of thirteen (13) must seek and obtain parent or guardian permission to use this website.

Choices about how we use your information

Opt-In

Visitors and users of our website have the option to opt-in to email newsletters on our website.

Unsubscribe or Opt-Out

All users and visitors to our website have the option to discontinue receiving communications from us by way of email or newsletters. To unsubscribe from any of our communications, follow the unsubscribe link provided at the bottom of each communication. If you wish to unsubscribe or opt-out from any third-party websites, or email communications you must go to that specific website and follow their instructions to unsubscribe or opt-out. FCLWD will continue to adhere to this Policy with respect to any personal information previously collected.

Do Not Track

Do Not Track (DNT) is a web browser setting that requests that a web application disable its tracking of an individual user. When you choose to turn on the DNT setting in your browser, your browser sends a special signal to websites, analytics companies, and networks, plug in providers, and other web services you encounter while browsing to stop tracking your activity. FCLWD will not track your activity if this is set in your browser.

Links to Other Websites

Our website contains links to affiliate and other websites. FCLWD does not claim nor accept responsibility for any privacy policies, practices and/or procedures of other such websites. Therefore, we encourage all users and visitors to be aware when they leave our website and to read the privacy statements of every website that collects personally identifiable information. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website. This Privacy Policy applies only and solely to the information collected by our website.

Your Information Rights

If you have any questions about our privacy policy or wish to request access to, correct or delete any information that you have provided to us you can contact us via our contact link on our website, or call FCLWD at our main phone number: 970.226.3104, or email us at frontdesk@fclwd.com. We cannot delete your personal information except by also deleting your account. We may not accommodate a request to change or delete information if we believe that would violate any law or legal requirement or cause the information to be incorrect.

How We Store your Information and Data Security

FCLWD takes many precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. We keep information stored securely on business systems and website servers.  Wherever we collect sensitive information (e.g. credit card information) that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a lock icon in the address bar and looking for “https” at the beginning of the address of the web page.

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. Users need unique credentials to access any information they are granted. Password policies guide the use and maintenance of those credentials. The computers and servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment both digitally and physically. This is all done to prevent any loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure or modification of the user’s personal information wider our control.

The safety and security of your information also depends on you. Where we have given you (or you have chosen a password) for access to certain areas of the website you are responsible for keeping the password secure and confidential. We ask that you do not share your password with anyone.

Ultimately, the transmission of information via the internet always carries some risk. Although we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information transmitted via our website. Any transmission is at your own risk.  We are also not responsible for circumventing any privacy settings or security measures contained on the website.

Your California Privacy Rights

California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits users of our Website that are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact us via the Contact Us link on our website.

Notice to European Union Users

FCLWD’s operations are in the state of Colorado, United States. Our website is intended only for use by those living in the United States. If you provide information to us, the information may be transferred out of the European Union (EU) and sent to the United States. (The adequacy decision on the EU-US Privacy became operational on August 1, 2016. This framework protects the fundamental rights of anyone in the EU whose personal data is transferred to the United States for commercial purposes. It allows the free transfer of data to companies that are certified in the US under the Privacy Shield.) By providing personal information to us, you are consenting to its storage and use as described in this Policy.

Acceptance of Terms

By using this website, you are accepting the terms and conditions within the Privacy Policy. If you are not in agreement with our terms and conditions, then you should refrain from further use of our website. In addition, your continued use of our website following the posting of any updates or changes to our terms and conditions shall mean that you agree and accept such changes.

Contact FCLWD

If you have questions regarding this policy or any other questions you can contact FCLWD by calling us at 970.226.3104 or by emailing us at frontdesk@fclwd.com.