Monroe County Water Authority
Privacy Policy
(Adopted May 8, 2025)
Overview
Welcome to the website of the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA). This website (the Site) is designed to make it easier and more efficient for our customers and visitors to learn about MCWA and to interact with us.
MCWA is committed to protecting your privacy when you access our Site and the online services we offer. Consistent with the provisions of New York State’s Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law, and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, this Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand, among other things:
(i) The types of information we collect from you when you use MCWA’s Site (https://www.mcwa.com and https://cp.mcwa.com);
(ii) How we use the information we collect through the Site; and
(iii) With whom and why we share it.
By accessing and continuing to use the Site, you accept the Privacy Policy in its entirety and without modification and consent to our collection, use and sharing of the information as described herein, including information collected before the Revised and Amended date noted above. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use this Site.
Personal Information
For purposes of this policy, “personal information” means any information concerning a natural person which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or other identifier, can be used to identify that natural person. MCWA collects personal information about you when you provide that information voluntarily by sending an email, or by initiating an online transaction, such as responding to a survey, account registration, or completing a payment/order form. Personal information may also include “private information,” which consists of any personal information combined with any one or more of the data elements specified in section 208 of the State Technology Law including (but not limited to): a social security number, a driver’s license number, an account number, a credit card number, and biometric information or a username or e-mail address in combination with a password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account.
You may choose to submit personal information in a registration form or by paying for services on this Site. Personal financial information will be submitted via a secure socket layer and stored securely on MCWA IT Systems and through third party contractors.
Your choice to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to access certain information; however, it may impair your ability to use some of the services offered on this Site. It shall not prevent you from requesting services or products from MCWA by other means and will not normally have an impact on your ability to take advantage of other features of the Site, including browsing or downloading most publicly available information.
What Information Do We Collect?
MCWA collects information in two ways:
(i) Directly from you when you provide it to us by using this Site; and
(ii) Automatically through the use of technology as you navigate and use the Site.
Information You Provide Us
MCWA collects information such as your name, account number, email address, phone number, and address and payment information when you access and use the Site. For example, to enable you to make a payment or register for automatic payments, you may provide us with your name, address, phone number, MCWA account number, email address, bank name, bank account and routing numbers.
Information Collected Automatically when You Visit the Site
When visiting this Site, MCWA automatically collects and stores certain information about your visit. The information we collect in this manner may include:
(i) The Internet Protocol Address and domain name of your internet service provider. The Internet Protocol Address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your internet service provider or directly to your computer, which can be used to direct internet traffic to you;
(ii) The type of browser and operating system used;
(iii) The date and time you visited the Site;
(iv) The web pages or services you accessed at the Site;
(v) The web site you visited prior to coming to this Site;
(vi) The web site you visit as you leave this Site;
(vii) Session ID; and
(viii) If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.
The information that is collected automatically is used to improve the Site’s content and to help MCWA understand how users are interacting with the Site. This information is collected for statistical analysis, to determine what information is of most and least interest to our users, and to improve the utility of the material available on the Site. This information is also used to provide technical support for the Site and its associated computer systems, to diagnose system performance or problem areas, and to detect attempts to damage or gain unauthorized access to the Site and its associated computer systems. This information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes and MCWA does not sell or otherwise disclose the information collected for commercial marketing purposes.
Cookies
Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this Site. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites. In order to better serve you, MCWA may use cookies to enhance or customize your visit to the Site. MCWA may use the cookie feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on the device you use to access the Site. A “persistent cookie” enables the site to recognize you when you return to the Site. Third party services may have cookies with different expiration periods such as Google Analytics (see Third Party Services). Cookies can be erased during operation of your browser or when your browser is closed at your discretion. Refusing or deleting these cookies can limit your ability to take advantage of some features of the Site.
How Do We Use the Information We Collect?
MCWA uses the information you provide us through the Site, including any personal information, in several different ways including:
(i) Responding to and communicating with you about your questions and comments;
(ii) Providing you with services you are requesting, including, facilitating payments and managing your account;
(iii) Operating, evaluating and improving our Site’s content and services;
(iv) Performing data analyses to help MCWA understand how you are interacting with the website;
(v) Any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information; and
(vi) Any other business purposes.
Information Collected when You Email Through the Site or Initiate an Online Transaction Through this Site
If you send an email to MCWA, your email address and the contents of your email will be collected. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats included in the message. Your email address and the information included your message will be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to improve the website, or to forward your message for appropriate action. Your email address shall not be collected for commercial purposes and MCWA will not sell or otherwise disclose your email address for commercial purposes.
During your visit to the Site you may initiate a transaction such as a survey, account registration or initiating an order/payment form. You may also initiate a transaction using our chatbot feature. The information, including personal information, provided by you in initiating the transaction is used by MCWA to operate MCWA programs. The information collected by MCWA may be disclosed by MCWA for those purposes reasonably related to the issue.
During your visit to the Site you may provide your mobile or home phone number to receive SMS messages, text messages, or telephone calls from MCWA. This information, volunteered by you in initiating the transaction will only be used to operate MCWA programs, which include the provision of goods, services, and information such as alerts. By providing your cell or home phone number, you provide your express written consent to MCWA for use of your mobile phone number for those purposes reasonably related to the transaction at issue.
Children’s Privacy
This Site is not intended for children. The Website is offered and available to users who are 13 years of age or older. The MCWA does not knowingly collect personal information or create profiles of children. If we become aware that a child has submitted personal information or is attempting to do so, we will delete any such personal information from our records.
Subject to the provisions above, the collection of personal information submitted in an email or through an online transaction will be treated as though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted from access by federal or state law, be subject to public access.
Disclosing Your Information
MCWA will not disclose personal information to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity, including internal staff, who do not need the information to perform their official duties, unless the user has consented to the collection or disclosure of such personal information. Voluntary disclosure of personal information to MCWA by the user constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of the information by MCWA for the purposes for which the user disclosed the information to MCWA, as was reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms of the disclosure.
However, MCWA may collect or disclose personal information without the consent of the user if the collection or disclosure is: (1) necessary to perform the statutory duties of MCWA, or necessary for MCWA to operate a program authorized by law, or authorized by state or federal statute or regulation; (2) made pursuant to a court order or by law; (3) for the purpose of validating the identity of the user; or (4) of information to be used solely for statistical purposes that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular person. MCWA may also disclose personal information to federal or state law enforcement authorities to enforce its rights against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access to MCWA’s information technology assets or against other inappropriate use of this Site.
Employees of MCWA are generally prohibited from disclosing any information you provide, except as provided or required by court order or other law (for example, the Freedom of Information Law, which requires MCWA to make certain information available to the public upon request). We use information you provide, such as your email address or mobile phone number, to send you information you have requested. We will use information you provide us in connection with an online application to process your request. MCWA does not sell, rent, loan, trade or lease email addresses or other personal information collected on our Site.
The MCWA shall not disclose to the public or otherwise make available to the public in any manner an individual’s social security number or confidential account information unless compelled by law.
How Long Do We Keep Your Personal Information?
The information collected through this Site is retained by MCWA in accordance with the records retention and disposition requirements of the New York State Arts & Cultural Affairs Law. Information on the requirements of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law may be found here. Other information collected through the Site, including emails, is retained by MCWA for as long as it is needed for business or legal purposes.
Access to and Correction of Personal Information Collected Through this Site
You may submit a request pursuant to the Personal Privacy Protection Law, to the MCWA’s Information Officer, to determine whether personal information pertaining to you has been collected through the Site. Any such request shall be made in writing to the Information Officer at the address listed in the Contact Section of this Privacy Policy and must be accompanied by reasonable proof of your identity. Reasonable proof of identity may include verification of a signature, inclusion of an identifier generally known only to you, or similar appropriate identification.
The Information Officer shall, within five (5) business days of the date of the receipt of a proper request: (i) provide access to the personal information; (ii) deny access in writing, explaining the reasons for denial; or (iii) acknowledge the receipt of the request in writing, stating the approximate date when the request will be granted or denied, which date shall not be more than thirty (30) days from the date of the acknowledgment.
In the event that MCWA has collected personal information pertaining to you through its Site and that information is to be provided to you pursuant to your request, the Information Officer shall inform you of your right to request that the personal information be amended or corrected under the procedures set forth in the Personal Privacy Protection Law.
Information Security
MCWA has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to restricted employee access, firewalls, password protection, monitoring of the system and Site for unauthorized accesses, auditing of the system, and encryption of sensitive files that are sent or received. These security procedures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of the Site for the continued security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.
However, the transmission of information via the Internet and any system of safeguards is never completely secure. We cannot guarantee the security of your information transmitted to our Site and any transmission of information is at your own risk. We are not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on our Site.
Third Party Services
MCWA website leverages third party services from external vendors such as AWS, Google, Tawk.io, ArcGIS, Speedpay, and other services related to website functionality. This Privacy Policy covers only our use of cookies, and other similar technology, and not the use of such technology by third parties.
Some third-party services that MCWA uses may place their own cookies in your browser. For example, Google Analytics is a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google utilizes the data collected to track and examine the use of the site, to prepare reports on its activities, and share them with other Google services. Google may use the data collected to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network. Please visit the third-party vendors’ websites to review their respective privacy policies.
Third-Party Links Disclaimer
MCWA may provide links to third-party websites that we do not own or control. A link provided on this Site does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of the linked website. Once you link to another website from this Site, including one maintained by the State, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including, but not limited to, its internet privacy policy, which has precedence for information collected by that site. We are not responsible for the information collection practices of any website that we do not own or control. When you click on the links to third party websites you are leaving the MCWA Site and accessing these third-party websites at your own risk. MCWA does not monitor or control the content of any websites linked to our Site and, therefore, we are not responsible for the products, services or content of any website linked to our Site or the terms of use or privacy practices employed by those other websites. We encourage you to review and understand the privacy practices of third-party websites before providing any information to or through them.
Changes in Privacy Notice
From time to time, we may update this Privacy Policy. You should visit this page periodically to review any such changes to the Privacy Policy. Providing information to us after implementation of our new policy, and/or your continued use of the Site will be deemed your agreement that your information may be used in accordance with the new policy. If you do not agree with the changes, then you should not provide additional information to us, stop using the Site and you should notify us that you do not want your information used in accordance with the changes.
Contact
If you have questions or comments regarding this policy and/or inquiries regarding access to and correction of Personal Information collected through the Site, you can contact us by phone (585) 442-7200, or by mail to: Customer Service, Monroe County Water Authority, 475 Norris Drive, Rochester, New York 14610; or by email, Information@MCWA.com.