We have created this privacy statement to demonstrate our firm and continuing commitment to the privacy of personal information provided by those visiting and interacting with this website. We hold the privacy of your personal information in the highest regard. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this website.
We recognize the importance of protecting your privacy and our policy is designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us and to assist you in making informed decisions when using our site. This policy will be continuously assessed against new technologies, business practices and our customers’ needs.
What Information Do We Collect?
When you visit this web site you may provide us with two types of information: personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis and website use information collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our website.
Public Records
As a governmental agency and a political subdivision of the State of South Carolina, BJWSA is governed by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act relative to public records. This means that certain information received by BJWSA may be subject to disclosure to include certain account information if requested under the Act. FOIA also provides certain exemptions from disclosure. For a full list of items that can be exempt from disclosure, please refer to SC Code Ann. Section 30-4-40. For purposes of determining whether information is a public record, information sent to us through this web site is treated the same as information sent to us by mail or delivered to us in person.
S.C. Family Privacy Protection Act
Under the South Carolina Family Privacy Protection Act, the collection of personal information pertaining to a citizen of the State of South Carolina is limited to such personal information required by BJWSA necessary to fulfill a legitimate public purpose.
S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-2-50(A) provides that “A person or private entity shall not knowingly obtain or use personal information obtained from a state agency, a local government or other political subdivision of the State for commercial solicitation directed to any person in this State.”
Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. Section 30-2-50(B), notice is hereby given to all requestors of public records and to all person who obtain public records that obtaining or using public records for commercial solicitation directed to any person in this State is prohibited.
Notice is further given that pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. 30-2-50(D), a person knowingly violating the provisions of subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
Personal Information You Choose to Provide
Email Information
If you choose to correspond with us through email, we may retain the content of your email messages together with your email address and our responses. We provide the same protections for these electronic communications that we employ in the maintenance of information received by mail and telephone.
Web Site Use Information
Similar to other commercial Web sites, our Web site utilizes web server log files to collect information about how our Web site is used. Information gathered through Web server logs may include the date and time of visits, the pages viewed, time spent at our Web site, and the Web sites visited just before and just after our Web site.
How Do We Use the Information That You Provide to Us?
Broadly speaking, we use personal information for purposes of administering our business activities, providing the products and services you requested, to monitor the use of the service, our marketing and promotional efforts and improve our content and service offerings, and customize our site’s content, layout, services and for other lawful purposes. These uses improve our site and better tailor it to meet your needs. Furthermore, such information may be shared with others on an aggregate basis. Personally identifiable information or business information will not be shared with parties except as required by law.
IP Addresses
IP addresses are used by your computer every time you are connected to the Internet. Your IP address is a number that is used by computers on the network to identify your computer. IP addresses are automatically collected by our web server as part of demographic and profile data known as traffic data so that data (such as the Web pages you request) can be sent to you.
Sharing and Selling Information
We do not share, sell, lend or lease any of the information that uniquely identify a subscriber (such as email addresses or personal details) with anyone except to the extent it is necessary to process transactions, such as a bill payment, or provide services that you have requested.
Legally Compelled Disclosure of Information
We may disclose information when legally compelled to do so, in other words, when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires it or for the protection of our legal rights. We may also disclose account information when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be violating our Terms of Service Agreement or to protect the safety of our users and the Public.
What About Other Web Sites Linked to Our Web Site?
We are not responsible for the practices employed by Web sites linked to or from our Web site or the information or content contained therein. Often links to other Web sites are provided solely as pointers to information on topics that may be useful to the users of our Web site.
Please remember that when you use a link to go from our Website to another web site, our Privacy Policy is no longer in effect. Your browsing and interaction on any other web site, including web sites, which have a link on our Website, is subject to that Web site’s own rules and policies. Please read over those rules and policies before proceeding.
Your Consent
By using our Web site you consent to our collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to amend this privacy policy at any time with or without notice.
Our Commitment To Data Security
Please note that your information will be stored and processed on our computers in the United States. The laws on holding personal data in the United States may be less stringent than the laws of your Country of residence or citizenship. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
A Special Note About Children
Children are not eligible to use our services unsupervised and we ask that children (under the age of 14) do not submit any personal information to us. If you are a minor, you can use this service only in conjunction with permission and guidance from your parents or guardians.
Policy Modifications
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post any changes here, so be sure to check back periodically. However, please be assured that if the Privacy Policy changes in the future, we will not use the personal information you have submitted to us under this Privacy Policy in a manner that is materially inconsistent with this Privacy Policy, without your prior consent.
Customer privacy is paramount at BJWSA
Okatie, SC (December 2019) – As originally reported in 2015, BJWSA signed an agreement with HomeServe USA to offer optional protection plans for customers’ home exterior water and sewer service lines. The original release is here.
Customer information was never provided to HomeServe nor are customer rates impacted by the agreement. The Authority only provided zip codes within the service area to HomeServe. This is in line with BJWSA’s mission, which is to inspire trust and enhance public health.
In exchange for a set-up fee and a 12% commission on any service plans sold, the Authority gave HomeServe USA the right to use the BJWSA logo on mailed advertisements. The set-up fee and monthly commission payments are placed in a hardship fund to assist needy customers with extenuating circumstances who could be in danger of disconnection of their water and/or sewer services. The United Way of Beaufort County administers the fund. Learn more here.
For questions about HomeServe or the Hardship Fund, please contact BJWSA at 843-987-9200.