Privacy Policy
AWWA Internet Privacy Protection Plan
Purpose and Background
The American Water Works Association ("AWWA") Internet Privacy Protection Plan discloses how AWWA protects its members' and customers' privacy by controlling the use of information AWWA collects from them. AWWA has created this Internet Privacy Protection Plan to demonstrate its commitment to its members' and customers' right to privacy. The following information discloses AWWA's information gathering and dissemination practices for this Web site: www.awwa.org. Through its interaction with you, AWWA has various sources for member/customer information, for example, membership forms, conference registration, purchases, and Internet interaction. All information collected by AWWA is stored in its central database, and the information from one source is not handled differently from another source. Although the following provisions constitute AWWA's Internet Privacy Protection Plan, they apply in principle to all customer/member information held by AWWA.
Availability
AWWA will post this plan on its Web site www.awwa.org and it will be linked from the front page and from any page where member information is collected.
Information Collected by AWWA
AWWA forms collect only the information for which they ask you explicitly and which you enter in them. AWWA does not collect any information beyond form information except through log files and discussion forums. AWWA collects:
- Registrant information during online conference registrations and requests for hotel rooms and exhibit space.
- Purchaser information during Bookstore purchase or purchase of downloaded documents through Techstreet.
- Contact information supplied by users of Adquery who are requesting advertiser product information.
- Information supplied by registrants for courses offered in AWWA's Online Institute which is run for AWWA by AdvanceOnline.
- Presenter information submitted in response to calls-for-papers.
- Contact information submitted in job listings, employer account information, and resumes associated with job postings.
- New or changed member contact information submitted in a change-of-address form, and contact information submitted in forms requesting information about AWWA membership, or in applications to serve on AWWA volunteer groups.
- Expressions of interest in the Partnership for Safe Water.
- Names, email addresses, and email messages of forum participants.
- Internet log files of the IP addresses and click sequences, and session variables such as browser type, of visitors to www.awwa.org.
AWWA will modify this section as necessary as new features are added to www.awwa.org.
Personal Information from Children and Adults
AWWA does not intentionally or knowingly collect information from children. AWWA neither identifies information as originating from children nor does AWWA market its goods and services to children. AWWA restricts its collection of personal information to demographic characteristics which help it understand its members/customers and their needs (see below), and to information used in authorized transactions (for example: address and credit card number for online purchases).
AWWA's Use of the Collected Information
AWWA uses the information it collects in three ways: (1) some information is used internally and for AWWA marketing purposes; (2) some information is used in the sale of mailing lists; and (3) some information remains in computer files which are the basis of statistical reports, with no member/customer detail extracted. Each of these uses is discussed below.
(1) Information Used Internally and for AWWA Marketing Purposes: Name, address, fax, email, affiliation, industry, job title, race, gender, age and other similar information is used by AWWA to understand its audiences and to offer member benefits and products to members/customers who are likely to be interested in them. Information collected in expressions of interest in the Partnership for Safe Water is used within that program only.
(2) Information Used in the Sale of Mailing Lists: AWWA rents addresses collected from members and nonmembers. Prior to renting an address, the requesting renter must provide AWWA with their exact intended use of the address and a sample of the mailing that will be sent out. AWWA's decision on whether or not to rent an address is based on the educational nature of the mailing piece and whether it furthers the overall interests of the AWWA. AWWA rents addresses segmented on the basis of geographic location or conference attendance, but does not rent lists based on purchase of specific products or services, or other demographic information. AWWA and its agents use "dummy" addresses in rented lists to detect and prevent renter abuse or multiple use of lists. Under no circumstances does AWWA rent telephone or fax numbers, or email addresses.
(3) Information Used for AWWA Statistical Reports: AWWA collects IP addresses for information about the geographic spread of internet users. AWWA may record type and version of browser, sequence of pages viewed, and length of session for use in improving site navigation and usefulness. This information is for statistical analysis and is not correlated with any specific user.
Information Not Currently Used
AWWA does not use the names and email addresses of forum participants. Contact information for users of Adquery is transmitted at their request to advertisers that interest them - AWWA makes no use of this information.
Information Collected by Third Parties
Users of AWWA's Web site may have occasion to enter the sites of third parties under contract with AWWA for provision of specific Web site features (for example, Adquery [InfoXpress], JobMark, AdvanceOnline, and Techstreet). AWWA's agreements with InfoXpress and JobMark prohibit these organizations' use of information gathered. InfoXpress transmits inquiries about AWWA advertisers directly to the advertiser. Techstreet's privacy policy expressly forbids their use of AWWA customer information. AdvanceOnline's privacy policy offers users the ability to opt-out of receiving many mailings, and protects user information, much of which AdvanceOnline shares with AWWA.
Use of Internet Cookies
Certain features of AWWA's Web site use an Internet technology called "cookies." In brief, when a user visits one of these features, AWWA's web server sends a short string of characters to the user's browser. These characters are stored on the user's machine so that AWWA's server can identify the specific user later in the same visit or during a future visit. Through the use of cookies, users of AWWA's discussion forums can configure which forums they want to see, how many days of messages, and other details that AWWA's server will remember. The forums will be configured for these users in future visits if they have accepted a cookie. Users can set their browsers not to accept cookies, or to warn them when one is sent. They can also delete existing cookies. AWWA believes that this technology enhances web customer service and saves users from restating their preferences on each visit. AWWA does not permit downloads or cookies from third-party Web sites, with the exception of its bookstore catalog systems and the Adquery system, which are under contract to AWWA and are bound by this Internet Privacy Protection Plan. AWWA does not use cookies for any marketing purpose.
Opting Out
AWWA recognizes that members/customers may wish to limit AWWA's use of personal information, and that this decision may occur after information is provided. If desired, AWWA will mark a member/customer's records in its central database to exclude that address in rented mailing lists. To accomplish this, members/customers should email complete contact information to custsvc@awwa.org or call 1-800-926-7337 and request that their records be marked "NO OUTSIDE DISTRIBUTION". AWWA is able to prevent mailings of AWWA promotional material by marking member/customer's records "NO AWWA PROMOTIONAL MAILINGS," and to prevent faxing of AWWA promotional material by marking member/customer's records "NO AWWA FAX BROADCAST DISTRIBUTION." These record marks may be requested in the same manner described above. This could deprive the member/customer of some of the many benefits of their association with AWWA.
Protected Zones on AWWA's Web site
AWWA may soon set up zones on its Web site for specific audiences. These might include zones for particular member categories, for subscribers to a certain publication, or for attendees at a specific conference. These will require AWWA to install web features which ask for user disclosure of name, member number, or email address, and which may involve placement of persistent cookies on the user's machine. Members/customers who do not wish to provide such information, or who do not allow placement of a persistent cookie on their machine, will not be able to access or use the Web site zone in question because the Web site will not be able to recognize them.
Data Security
AWWA uses several methods to transmit information submitted by customers. Increasingly, transactions are protected using SSL encryption software. This means that your credit card information, name, address, and email cannot be read as they travel across the Internet. SSL encryption is the standard for transactional security and it is used by virtually all other e-commerce systems on the web. AWWA joins the Internet community's concern for data safety. Some AWWA systems use unencrypted posting, in which your data is sent like email from your browser to AWWA's server. The server retransmits this information to AWWA's Association Service Representatives by email. AWWA's web servers and its in-house association management systems are protected by advanced security measures.
AWWA's Guarantee
We have NEVER had a bank confirm fraudulent use of a customer credit card as a result of ordering from AWWA via the Internet. Because we are so confident of this record, we offer this guarantee: if you ever experience unauthorized use of your credit card as a result of ordering from AWWA via the Internet through our SSL secured servers, we will reimburse you up to a maximum of $50 if your bank holds you liable for the charges. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS PARAGRAPH, AWWA HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY GUARANTEE AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER. AWWA MAKES NO GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY REGARDING THE OPERATION OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY SECURITY MEASURE OR DEVICE INSTALLED ON ITS WEB SITE OR USED IN PROCESSING ONLINE TRANSACTIONS. THE FOREGOING STATES THE ENTIRE LIABILITY OF AWWA WITH RESPECT TO DATA THEFT OR CORRUPTION.
Your Permission
By using AWWA's Web site, you consent to the collection and use of the information by AWWA unless you have OPTED OUT (see above). If we change our privacy or security policies in the future, those changes will be posted here so you always know what information we collect, how we use it, and how we protect it.
Further Explanations
We would be happy to explain any of our privacy and security policies to you in person. Questions regarding information privacy may be directed to Customer Service at custsvc@awwa.org. Please include a phone number so we may respond directly.
