PRIVACY POLICY

PRIVACY STATEMENT

The Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Des Moines, Iowa (“Central Iowa Water Works”) is a municipal utility organized and existing under Chapter 388, Code of Iowa. The Central Iowa Water Works provides water utility service to customers in the Des Moines metropolitan and also provides joint billing for other municipal utilities with its water bills.

The Central Iowa Water Works offers web sites and online services in connection with its utility and billing activities and services. This Privacy Statement outlines Central Iowa Water Works' information data security practices relating to its online services.

The Central Iowa Water Works is an Iowa public entity, as are the other utilities for which it issues joint bills, and they are subject to the requirements of the Iowa Open Records law, Chapter 22, Code of Iowa, under which their records are generally open to public inspection and copying, subject only to limitations and exceptions as provided by law.

It is the practice and intent of the Central Iowa Water Works to keep customer information private to the full extent required or allowed by law, but some customer information subject to this Privacy Policy may be required to be made available for inspection or copying under Chapter 22, Code of Iowa, upon request made to the Central Iowa Water Works or other utility for which billing is made and this privacy statement is qualified in its entirety by such legal requirements.

1. Web Sites Covered

This Privacy Statement covers the information practices of the Web sites posted by Central Iowa Water Works. When sites are posted by Central Iowa Water Works, the site will link to this Privacy Statement, and this Privacy Statement applies. When sites are posted by third parties, the privacy statement of the third party applies, and this Privacy Statement does not apply.

Central Iowa Water Works' Web sites may contain links to other Web sites. Central Iowa Water Works is not responsible for the information practices or the content of such other Web sites. Central Iowa Water Works encourages you to review the privacy statements of other Web sites to understand their information practices.

2. Personal Information Collected

Central Iowa Water Works offers a variety of online services that are collectively referred to in this policy as the “Services.” Central Iowa Water Works collects information from individuals who visit its Web sites (“Visitors”) and individuals who register to use the Services (“Customers”).

When expressing an interest in obtaining additional information about the Services or registering to use the Services, Central Iowa Water Works requires you to provide the Central Iowa Water Works with contact information, such as name, company name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (“Required Contact Information”). In order for you to use billing or payment Services, Central Iowa Water Works may require you to provide the Central Iowa Water Works with applicable information, such as billing name and address, credit card number, bank account information or other data applicable to the kind of Services requested (“Billing Information”). Central Iowa Water Works may also ask you to provide other kinds of additional information depending on the Services to be used (“Optional Information”). Required Contact Information, Billing Information, and Optional Information are referred to collectively as “Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers.”

As you navigate the Company's Web sites, Central Iowa Water Works may also collect information through the use of commonly used information-gathering tools, such as cookies and web beacons (“Web Site Navigational Information”). Web Site Navigational Information includes standard information from your web browser, such as browser type and browser language, your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, and the actions you take on the Company's Web sites, such as the web pages viewed and the links clicked.

3. Use of Information Collected

The Central Iowa Water Works uses Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers to perform the Services requested, and as a part of its general utility and billing operations, which may include sharing with the other utilities for which it does joint billing. For example if you use online payment Services, such information will be used to manage and record payments and collections by the Central Iowa Water Works and by the other utilities for which it is billing and collecting. For further example, if you fill out a “Contact Me” Web form, the Central Iowa Water Works will use the information provided to contact you about your interest in the Services.

The Central Iowa Water Works may also use Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers for marketing purposes. For example, the Central Iowa Water Works may use information you provide to contact you to further discuss your interest in Central Iowa Water Works, the Services, and to send you information regarding the Central Iowa Water Works and others, such as information about promotions or events.

Central Iowa Water Works uses credit card, bank, and similar information solely to effect payment for utility rates and charges.

Central Iowa Water Works uses Web Site Navigational Information to operate and improve the Central Iowa Water Works’ Web sites. The Central Iowa Water Works may also use Web Site Navigational Information in combination with Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers to provide personalized information to customers.

4. Web Site Navigational Information 

Central Iowa Water Works may use commonly used information-gathering tools, such as cookies and web beacons, to collect information as you navigate the Company's Web sites (“Web Site Navigational Information”). This section describes the types of Web Site Navigational Information the Central Iowa Water Works may collect and how the Central Iowa Water Works may use this information.

Cookies

Central Iowa Water Works uses cookies to make interactions with the Company's Web sites easy and meaningful. When you visit one of the Company's Web sites, Central Iowa Water Works' servers send a cookie to your computer. Standing alone, cookies do not personally identify you. They merely recognize your web browser. Unless you choose to identify yourself to Central Iowa Water Works either by responding to a promotional offer, opening an account, or filling out a web form (such as a “Contact Me” or a “Start Services” web form), you remain anonymous to the Company.

There are two types of cookies: session-based and persistent-based. Session cookies exist only during one session. They disappear from your computer when you close your browser software or turn off your computer. Persistent cookies remain on your computer after you close your browser or turn off your computer.

If you have chosen to identify yourself to Central Iowa Water Works, the Central Iowa Water Works uses session cookies containing encrypted information to allow the Central Iowa Water Works to uniquely identify you. Each time you log into the Services, a session cookie containing an encrypted, unique identifier that is tied to your account is placed in your browser. These session cookies allow the Central Iowa Water Works to uniquely identify you when you are logged into the Services and to process your online transactions and requests. Session cookies are required to use the Services.

Central Iowa Water Works may use persistent cookies that only the Central Iowa Water Works can read and use to identify browsers that have previously visited the Company's Web sites. When you use the Services or provide the Central Iowa Water Works with personal information, a unique identifier is assigned to you. This unique identifier is associated with a persistent cookie that the Central Iowa Water Workplaces on your web browser. The Central Iowa Water Works is especially careful about the security and confidentiality of the information stored in persistent cookies. For example, the Central Iowa Water Works does not store account numbers or passwords in persistent cookies. If you disable your web browser's ability to accept cookies, you will be able to navigate the Company's Web sites, but you will not be able to successfully use the Services.

Central Iowa Water Works may use information from session and persistent cookies in combination with Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers to provide you with information about the Central Iowa Water Works, the utilities for which it jointly bills or the Services.

Web Beacons

Central Iowa Water Works may use web beacons alone or in conjunction with cookies to compile information about Customers and Visitors' usage of the Company's Web sites and interaction with e-mails from the Company. Web beacons are clear electronic images that can recognize certain types of information on your computer, such as cookies, when you viewed a particular Web site tied to the web beacon, and a description of a Web site tied to the web beacon. For example, Central Iowa Water Works may place web beacons in marketing e-mails that notify the Central Iowa Water Works when you click on a link in the e-mail that directs you to one of the Company's Web sites. Central Iowa Water Works may use web beacons to operate and improve the Company's Web sites and e-mail communications. Central Iowa Water Works may use information from web beacons in combination with Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers to provide you with information about the Central Iowa Water Works and the Services.

IP Addresses

When you visit Central Iowa Water Works' Web sites, the Central Iowa Water Works collects your Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses to track and aggregate non-personally identifiable information. For example, Central Iowa Water Works uses IP addresses to monitor the regions from which Customers and Visitors navigate the Company's Web sites.

Third-Party Cookies

From time-to-time, Central Iowa Water Works engages third parties to track and analyze non-personally identifiable usage and volume statistical information from individuals who visit the Company's Web sites. Central Iowa Water Works may also use other third-party cookies to track the performance of Central Iowa Water Works advertisements. The information provided to third parties does not include personal information, but this information may be re-associated with personal information after the Central Iowa Water Works receives it. This Privacy Statement does not cover the use of third-party cookies.

5. Public Forums and Customer Testimonials

Central Iowa Water Works may provide bulletin boards, blogs, or chat rooms on the Central Iowa Water Works' Web sites. Any personally identifiable information you choose to submit in such a forum may be read, collected, or used by others who visit these forums, and may be used to send you unsolicited messages. Central Iowa Water Works is not responsible for the personally identifiable information you choose to submit in these forums.

Central Iowa Water Works may post a list of Customers and testimonials on the Company's Web sites that contain information such as Customer names and titles. Central Iowa Water Works obtains the consent of each Customer prior to posting any information on such a list or posting testimonials.

6. Sharing of Information Collected

Except as otherwise stated herein or as required by law, Central Iowa Water Works does not sell, rent, or trade or otherwise provide personally identifiable information to third parties for their promotional purposes.

Central Iowa Water Works does share Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers with the utilities for which it issues joint bills.

Central Iowa Water Works may also share Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers with our agents so that these agents can contact Customers and Visitors who have provided contact information on our behalf or to ensure the quality of information provided.

Central Iowa Water Works uses intermediaries to manage or effect credit card processing and bank payments. The intermediaries are not permitted to store, retain, or use Billing Information except for the sole purpose of payment processing on the behalf of the Central Iowa Water Works.

Central Iowa Water Works reserves the right to disclose personally identifiable information of the Customers or Visitors if required by law or if the Central Iowa Water Works reasonably believes that disclosure is necessary to protect the rights of the Central Iowa Water Works or to comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process or valid open records request.

7. Email Authorization

Customers using online payment services authorize Central Iowa Water Works to send them e-mails and cannot opt out of receiving transactional e-mails related to their account with Central Iowa Water Works.

8. Customer Data

Central Iowa Water Works Customers use the Services to host data and information (“Customer Data”). Central Iowa Water Works will not review, share, distribute, or reference any such Customer Data except as provided in the Central Iowa Water Works Master Subscription Agreement, or as may be required by law. Individual records of Customer Data may be viewed or accessed only for the purpose of resolving a problem, support issues, or suspected violation of the Central Iowa Water Works Master Subscription Agreement, or as may be required by law. Customers are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of their Central Iowa Water Works user names and passwords.

9. Security

Central Iowa Water Works uses robust security measures to protect Customer Data from unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and help ensure the appropriate use of Customer Data. These technologies help ensure that Customer Data is safe, secure, and only available to the Customer to whom the information belongs and those to whom the Customer has granted access. Central Iowa Water Works also implements an advanced security method based on dynamic data and encoded session identifications, and the Central Iowa Water Works hosts its Web sites in a secure server environment that uses firewalls and other advanced technology to prevent interference or access from outside intruders. Because the Central Iowa Water Works uses the Services to maintain Data About Central Iowa Water Works Customers, this information is secured in the same manner as described for Customer Data.

10. Changes to this Privacy Statement

Central Iowa Water Works reserves the right to change this Privacy Statement. Central Iowa Water Works will provide notification of the material changes to this Privacy Statement through the Company's Web sites prior to the change taking effect.

11. Contacting Us

Questions regarding this Privacy Statement or the information practices of the Company's Web sites should be directed to Central Iowa Water Works Privacy by mailing Central Iowa Water Works, Director of Customer Service and Marketing, 2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, Iowa, 50321.

Last updated: August 2024

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