WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Updated as of July, 2024
Welcome to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s ("MWRA's") Web site. Your privacy is one of our top priorities. The following policy applies to the use of the MWRA's Web site. Other Web sites operated by state agencies have different policies. We strongly suggest that you read the privacy policies for each Commonwealth website that you visit, and any external site that you visit through a link appearing at this site.
Your privacy with respect to the use of this Web site results from a partnership between the MWRA and you, the user. At mwra.com, we attempt to protect your privacy in accordance with best industry practices. However, because some of the information that we receive through this website is subject to Public Records Law, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Section 10, we cannot ensure absolute privacy. Information that you provide to us through this site may be made available to members of the public under that law. This policy informs you of the information that we collect from you at this site, what we do with it, to whom it may be disseminated, and how you can access it. Based on this information, you can make an informed choice about your use of this site. You can maximize the benefits of your privacy partnership with the MWRA by making informed choices about whether to share personally identifiable information with us through this site.
Personally Identifiable Information
We use the term "personally identifiable information" to mean any information that could reasonably be used to identify you, including your name, address, e-mail address, Social Security number, birth date, bank account information, credit card information, or any combination of information that could be used to identify you.
Information Voluntarily Provided by You
This site collects voluntary information from you only through the e-mails you send and online form datas you submit and any comments posted on MWRA social media pages, which could contain personally identifiable information.
Cookies and usage data
Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this website. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites.
This website uses cookies and tools for data collection and analytics to learn more about how visitors to mwra.com find and interact with the pages they visit. We may use this information to improve our service offerings and better tailor individual user experience. These tools may also collect data such as browser information, operating system, and page views through the implementation of “session cookies.”
This website employs the use of "session cookies" to enhance or customize your visit to this website. Session cookies can be created automatically on the device you use to access this website. These session cookies do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We may use the cookie feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on the device you use to access this website. A session cookie is erased during operation of your browser or when your browser is closed.
This website does not use "persistent cookies."
The software and hardware you use to access this website allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing cookies. Refusing or deleting these cookies may limit your ability to take advantage of some features of this website. Some of the tools permit you to opt-out of the tool by allowing that tool to plant a persistent cookie on your web browser indicating that you have opted out. If you disable cookies on your browser or use a different browser, different computer, different user account, etc., you will need to opt-out again.
Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy (e.g., possibly in response to a public records request), we do not combine the information collected through the use of any tool with personally identifiable information.
Third-Party Marketing Cookies and Tools
Third-party cookies are cookies that are tracked by websites other than the one you are visiting. MWRA uses data analytics and interactive tools, such as chatbots to improve this website and make the site more responsive to user needs. These tools may automatically and anonymously collect and record your interactions with the website. You can learn more about some of the tools mwra.com may use by visiting our Third-Party Data Analytic Tools page.
Dissemination of Your Personally Identifiable Information
We do not sell any personally identifiable information collected through this Web site. However, once you voluntarily submit personally identifiable information to us through, its dissemination is governed by the Public Records Law, the Fair Information Practices Act (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66A), and other applicable laws and regulations. For this reason, part or all of the information you send us may be provided to a member of the public in response to a public records request. For more information about the types of data required to be disclosed and/or exempted from disclosure under the Public Records Law, please refer to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s A Guide to Massachusetts Public Records Law.
In addition, the information that you voluntarily submit will be disclosed only to MWRA employees or officials with a "need to know" for purposes of fulfilling their job responsibilities. They will only use the information to answer your questions, respond to any requests for assistance, and fulfill the MWRA’s legal obligations. Where appropriate, we may provide the information submitted by you to the person or company that is the subject of your inquiry, or to a government agency responsible for the matters referred to in your communication. We will collect and aggregate the information you provide through mwra.com’s collection of non-personally identifying analytics data to improve the website and make the site more responsive to customer needs..
Your Access and Opportunity to Correct
The Public Records Law and the Fair Information Practices Act provide you certain rights to get information about you that is in our records. To learn more about the circumstances under which you can get and correct this information, please click on the above references to these laws.
Security
Because this site does not encrypt incoming e-mail or submitted form data, you should not send information that you consider highly sensitive through this website. We use standard security measures to ensure that your personally identifiable information is not lost, misused, altered, or unintentionally destroyed. We also use software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.
Policy Changes
We reserve the right to change the terms of this policy at any time. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed of any updates. The date that this policy was last modified can be found at the top of this page. Any modifications are effective immediately.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this privacy policy is not and should not be construed as providing any form of business, legal, or other advice, nor do we warrant as fail proof the security of information provided through this website. Users may wish to consult with their own counsel.
Contact Information
For questions about your privacy while using this website, please contact Director, Public Affairs Sean Navin.
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