The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is committed to safeguarding your privacy and personal information. We want you to know how we may collect, use, share, and keep information about you when you visit or use our online services and our mobile application.
INFORMATION COLLECTION
When you use our online services by accessing our website My DC Water or our mobile application, we may collect certain personal information from or about you, such as your name, email address, mailing address, telephone number(s), user name and password, and payment card or banking information (e.g., so that you can pay your water bill online). We may also collect information necessary to verify your credentials when you use our services available on our mobile application. For example, we may ask you to provide your professional licensing information (e.g., Plumber’s certification) when you use our third party portal feature.
DC Water also collects certain technical information from you when you use our online services or our mobile application so that we can give you the best possible customer experience. For example, when you visit our website we gather internet and browsing information such as the IP address of the device you use to connect to our website, the type of operating system and browser you use, the date and time you visited our site, and the pages you viewed. In addition, we gather information about how you interact with our mobile and online services by using cookies, unique device identifiers for your mobile device, and information about your physical location through a Geographic Positioning System (GPS). If you choose to upload documents or media images using our mobile application, we will receive and save the documents and images in our secure system.
DC Water recognizes the importance of children’s safety and privacy on the Internet. For this reason and in accordance with local and federal laws, we do not intentionally collect personal identifiable information from children under the age of 13, nor do we offer content targeted to children under 13.
INFORMATION USE
Although we gather technical information when you are visiting or using our online services or mobile application, we do not collect any personal information about you unless you choose to provide that information to us. You are not required to provide any personal information in order to access or browse our website or access our mobile application. But we may request your personal information in order to provide you with certain services, such as setting up an online customer account. The personal information you provide will be used solely for the purposes stated herein.
Certain personal information from you is required to create an online customer account or complete an online transaction with us (i.e., pay your water bill). The information you provide helps us process your online transactions and send you important communications about our services and your customer account with us. We also use your personal information to help us verify who you are, protect against fraud, and enhance the security of your customer account. When you provide licensing and certification information, it allows us to validate that an authorized professional is submitting photographs, documents, videos, or other media images through the features available on our mobile application.
Links
For the convenience of our visitors and customers, the site may contain links to other sites. While we generally try to link only to sites that share similar high standards and respect for privacy, we are not responsible for the content, products or services offered or the privacy and security practices employed by these other sites. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information. In addition, the entities operating these third-party sites may use cookies. However, DC Water has no access or control over these cookies. This Privacy Statement applies only to information collected by DC Water.
Media Files
When you upload photographs, documents, or other media using the features on our mobile application, your mobile device’s default file location internal or attached storage (i.e., Secure Digital Card (SD Card) is accessed to save the images captured by our mobile application. The same file location is accessed when you upload to our system any saved images you make available to us from your mobile device.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on your computer and is tied to information about you. If you decide to accept the cookie, the cookie will encrypt your logon information and allow you to access secured areas without having to re-enter your logon information. Cookies are deleted after your web session has ended. Most web browsers allow you to adjust your browser settings to decline cookies, but doing so may impact your customer experience on our website.
Location Information (Geographic Positioning System (GPS))
Location information is used to confirm the precise physical location of your mobile device when used by our mobile app to take a picture or video.
Internet and Wi-Fi Connection Information
Our mobile application will attempt to verify if there is an internet connection available by querying your mobile device’s operating system for a cellular or Wi-Fi connection (network information). Our mobile application will only access your network information when this feature is being used.
SECURITY AND INFORMATION SHARING
DC Water is the sole owner of the information collected on our website and in our mobile application. We will not sell your personal information and we make every effort to protect the privacy of the information you entrust to us. To secure and limit access to your personal and customer account information, we implement reasonable physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards. Your personal information will also be restricted to only employees who need the information to perform a specific job. DC Water does not share your personal or customer account information with any third party except as follows:
- Where it is necessary for completing transfers and payment transactions;
- Where it is necessary for activating additional services;
- In order to verify the existence and condition of your account to a third party, such as a credit bureau;
- To a customer reporting agency for search purposes only; or
- In order to comply with a governmental agency or legal/judicial process.
Notification of Changes
DC Water reserves the right to change or supplement this Privacy Statement at any time. If we make any substantial changes to this statement (including with respect to how we use customer identifiable information) we will notify you prior to implementing the change (to the extent commercially possible).
CONTACTING DC WATER
Keeping your customer account information up to date is very important. You may correct or update your customer account information online by going to the My DC Water section of our website or by emailing our Customer Service at custserv@dcwater.com. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact us by telephone or postal mail at the address listed below.
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) 5000 Overlook Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20032
Telephone: 202.787.2000
Fax: 202.787.2333
Email: info@dcwater.com
