Legal
Privacy Policy
How we collect, use, and protect your information
Introduction
ATX Cedar Watch respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you use our pollen tracking service. We believe in transparency and want you to understand exactly what data we handle and why.
This policy is effective as of January 1, 2024, and was last updated on January 31, 2025. By using ATX Cedar Watch, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at the email address provided at the end of this document.
Information We Collect
We collect minimal information to provide and improve our service. Here is what we collect and why:
Pollen Data
We fetch publicly available pollen data from third-party sources, including Google Maps Pollen API. This data includes pollen counts, allergen types, and forecast information for the Austin area. This information is publicly available and does not contain any personal data.
Analytics Data
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This includes anonymized information such as page views, session duration, device type (mobile/desktop), browser type, and general geographic location (city-level, not precise). We have enabled IP anonymization to protect your privacy.
Contact Information
If you choose to contact us via email, we will receive your email address and any information you include in your message. We only use this information to respond to your inquiry and do not share it with third parties.
How We Use Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Service Improvement: Analytics help us understand which features are most useful and how we can improve the user experience.
- Usage Patterns: We analyze aggregated data to understand traffic patterns, popular features, and device preferences.
- Debugging: Technical information helps us identify and fix errors, ensuring the service remains reliable.
- Communication: If you contact us, we use your email address solely to respond to your questions or feedback.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We do not use your data for advertising purposes.
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services to operate and improve ATX Cedar Watch:
Website Hosting
We use industry-standard hosting services to serve our website quickly and reliably. These services may collect technical information such as IP addresses for security and performance purposes.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand website usage. We have enabled IP anonymization, which means Google truncates the last portion of your IP address before processing. This helps us understand general usage patterns without identifying individual users. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Google Maps Pollen API
We use the Google Maps Pollen API to fetch pollen count data for the Austin area. When we request data, Google may receive the general geographic location of our server (Austin, Texas). No personal information about you is transmitted to Google through this service.
Cookies and Tracking
ATX Cedar Watch uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Essential Cookies
These are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable basic features like page navigation and access to secure areas.
Analytics Cookies
Google Analytics sets cookies to help us understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies collect information in an aggregated, anonymous form.
No Advertising Cookies: We do not use cookies for advertising purposes, nor do we allow third-party advertising on our site. We do not track you across different websites or build profiles for targeted advertising.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, disabling essential cookies may affect the functionality of our website.
Data Retention
We retain different types of data for different periods:
- Analytics Data: We retain Google Analytics data for 26 months, which is the default retention period. After this period, data is automatically deleted.
- Contact Emails: When you contact us via email, we retain your message only as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry. Once resolved, emails are deleted within 90 days unless required for legal purposes.
- Pollen Data: Cached pollen data is stored temporarily to improve performance and is refreshed regularly. Historical data may be retained for analytical purposes.
Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:
Access Your Data
You have the right to request a copy of any personal data we hold about you. Since we collect minimal personal data, this typically applies only to emails you have sent us.
Request Deletion
You can request that we delete any personal information we have about you. Contact us using the email below to make such a request.
Opt Out of Analytics
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available for most major browsers.
Cookie Preferences
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or service improvements. When we make significant changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- Post a notice on our homepage for major changes
- Update the effective date of the policy
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of ATX Cedar Watch after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 5 business days. For general questions about cedar pollen or our service, please visit our About page.