The Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Des Moines, Iowa (“Des Moines Water Works”) is a municipal utility organized and existing under Chapter 388, Code of Iowa.  The Des Moines Water Works provides water utility service to customers in the Des Moines metropolitan and also provides joint billing for other municipal utilities with its water bills.

The Des Moines Water Works offers web sites and online services in connection with its utility and billing activities and services.  This Privacy Statement outlines Des Moines Water Works' information data security practices relating to its online services.

The Des Moines Water Work is an Iowa public entity, as are the other utilities for which it issues joint bills, and they are subject to the requirements of the Iowa Open Records law, Chapter 22, Code of Iowa, under which their records are generally open to public inspection and copying, subject only to limitations and exceptions as provided by law.

It is the practice and intent of the Des Moines Water Works to keep customer information private to the full extent required or allowed by law, but some customer information subject to this Privacy Policy may be required to be made available for inspection or copying under Chapter 22, Code of Iowa, upon request made to the Des Moines Water Works or other utility for which billing is made and this privacy statement is qualified in its entirety by such legal requirements.

1. Web Sites Covered

This Privacy Statement covers the information practices of the Web sites posted by Des Moines Water Works.  When sites are posted by Des Moines Water Works, the site will link to this Privacy Statement, and this Privacy Statement applies. When sites are posted by third parties, the privacy statement of the third party applies, and this Privacy Statement does not apply.

Des Moines Water Works' Web sites may contain links to other Web sites. Des Moines Water Works is not responsible for the information practices or the content of such other Web sites. Des Moines Water Works encourages you to review the privacy statements of other Web sites to understand their information practices.

2. Personal Information Collected

Des Moines Water Works offers a variety of online services that are collectively referred to in this policy as the “Services.”  Des Moines Water Works collects information from individuals who visit its Web sites (“Visitors”) and individuals who register to use the Services (“Customers”).

When expressing an interest in obtaining additional information about the Services or registering to use the Services, Des Moines Water Works requires you to provide the Des Moines Water Works with contact information, such as name, company name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (“Required Contact Information”).   In order for you to use billing or  payment Services,  Des Moines Water Works may require you to provide the Des Moines Water Works with applicable information, such as billing name and address, credit card number, bank account information or other data applicable to the  kind of Services requested (“Billing Information”). Des Moines Water Works may also ask you to provide other kinds of additional information depending on the Services to be used (“Optional Information”). Required Contact Information, Billing Information, and Optional Information are referred to collectively as “Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers.”

As you navigate the Company's Web sites, Des Moines Water Works may also collect information through the use of commonly used information-gathering tools, such as cookies and web beacons (“Web Site Navigational Information”). Web Site Navigational Information includes standard information from your web browser, such as browser type and browser language, your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, and the actions you take on the Company's Web sites, such as the web pages viewed and the links clicked.

3. Use of Information Collected

The Des Moines Water Works uses Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers to perform the Services requested, and as a part of its general utility and billing operations, which may include sharing with the other utilities for which it does joint billing. For example if you use online payment Services, such information will be used to manage and record payments and collections by the Des Moines Water Works and by the other utilities for which it is billing and collecting. For further example, if you fill out a “Contact Me” Web form, the Des Moines Water Works will use the information provided to contact you about your interest in the Services.

The Des Moines Water Works may also use Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers for marketing purposes. For example, the Des Moines Water Works may use information you provide to contact you to further discuss your interest in Des Moines Water Works, the Services, and to send you information regarding the Des Moines Water Works and others, such as information about promotions or events.

Des Moines Water Works uses credit card, bank, and similar information solely to effect payment for utility rates and charges.

Des Moines Water Works uses Web Site Navigational Information to operate and improve the Des Moines Water Works’ Web sites. The Des Moines Water Works may also use Web Site Navigational Information in combination with Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers to provide personalized information to customers.

4. Web Site Navigational Information [Subject to technical review]

Des Moines Water Works may use commonly used information-gathering tools, such as cookies and web beacons, to collect information as you navigate the Company's Web sites (“Web Site Navigational Information”). This section describes the types of Web Site Navigational Information the Des Moines Water Works may collect and how the Des Moines Water Works may use this information.

Cookies

Des Moines Water Works uses cookies to make interactions with the Company's Web sites easy and meaningful. When you visit one of the Company's Web sites, Des Moines Water Works' servers send a cookie to your computer. Standing alone, cookies do not personally identify you. They merely recognize your web browser. Unless you choose to identify yourself to Des Moines Water Works either by responding to a promotional offer, opening an account, or filling out a web form (such as a “Contact Me” or a “Start Services” web form), you remain anonymous to the Company.

There are two types of cookies: session-based and persistent-based. Session cookies exist only during one session. They disappear from your computer when you close your browser software or turn off your computer. Persistent cookies remain on your computer after you close your browser or turn off your computer.

If you have chosen to identify yourself to Des Moines Water Works, the Des Moines Water Works uses session cookies containing encrypted information to allow the Des Moines Water Works to uniquely identify you. Each time you log into the Services, a session cookie containing an encrypted, unique identifier that is tied to your account is placed in your browser. These session cookies allow the Des Moines Water Works to uniquely identify you when you are logged into the Services and to process your online transactions and requests. Session cookies are required to use the Services.

Des Moines Water Works may use persistent cookies that only the Des Moines Water Works can read and use to identify browsers that have previously visited the Company's Web sites. When you use the Services or provide the Des Moines Water Works with personal information, a unique identifier is assigned to you. This unique identifier is associated with a persistent cookie that the Des Moines Water Workplaces on your web browser. The Des Moines Water Works is especially careful about the security and confidentiality of the information stored in persistent cookies. For example, the Des Moines Water Works does not store account numbers or passwords in persistent cookies. If you disable your web browser's ability to accept cookies, you will be able to navigate the Company's Web sites, but you will not be able to successfully use the Services.

Des Moines Water Works may use information from session and persistent cookies in combination with Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers to provide you with information about the Des Moines Water Works, the utilities for which it  jointly bills  or the Services.

Web Beacons

Des Moines Water Works may use web beacons alone or in conjunction with cookies to compile information about Customers and Visitors' usage of the Company's Web sites and interaction with e-mails from the Company. Web beacons are clear electronic images that can recognize certain types of information on your computer, such as cookies, when you viewed a particular Web site tied to the web beacon, and a description of a Web site tied to the web beacon. For example, Des Moines Water Works may place web beacons in marketing e-mails that notify the Des Moines Water Works when you click on a link in the e-mail that directs you to one of the Company's Web sites. Des Moines Water Works may use web beacons to operate and improve the Company's Web sites and e-mail communications. Des Moines Water Works may use information from web beacons in combination with Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers to provide you with information about the Des Moines Water Works and the Services.

IP Addresses

When you visit Des Moines Water Works' Web sites, the Des Moines Water Works collects your Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses to track and aggregate non-personally identifiable information. For example, Des Moines Water Works uses IP addresses to monitor the regions from which Customers and Visitors navigate the Company's Web sites.

Third-Party Cookies

From time-to-time, Des Moines Water Works engages third parties to track and analyze non-personally identifiable usage and volume statistical information from individuals who visit the Company's Web sites. Des Moines Water Works may also use other third-party cookies to track the performance of Des Moines Water Works advertisements. The information provided to third parties does not include personal information, but this information may be re-associated with personal information after the Des Moines Water Works receives it. This Privacy Statement does not cover the use of third-party cookies.

5. Public Forums and Customer Testimonials

Des Moines Water Works may provide bulletin boards, blogs, or chat rooms on the Des Moines Water Works' Web sites. Any personally identifiable information you choose to submit in such a forum may be read, collected, or used by others who visit these forums, and may be used to send you unsolicited messages. Des Moines Water Works is not responsible for the personally identifiable information you choose to submit in these forums.

Des Moines Water Works may post a list of Customers and testimonials on the Company's Web sites that contain information such as Customer names and titles. Des Moines Water Works obtains the consent of each Customer prior to posting any information on such a list or posting testimonials.

6. Sharing of Information Collected

Except as otherwise stated herein or as required by law, Des Moines Water Works does not sell, rent, or trade or otherwise provide personally identifiable information to third parties for their promotional purposes.

Des Moines Water Works does share Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers with the utilities for which it issues joint bills.

Des Moines Water Works may also share Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers with our agents so that these agents can contact Customers and Visitors who have provided contact information on our behalf or to ensure the quality of information provided.

Des Moines Water Works uses intermediaries to manage or effect credit card processing and bank payments. The intermediaries are not permitted to store, retain, or use Billing Information except for the sole purpose of payment processing on the behalf of the Des Moines Water Works.

Des Moines Water Works reserves the right to disclose personally identifiable information of the Customers or Visitors if required by law or if the Des Moines Water Works reasonably believes that disclosure is necessary to protect the rights of the Des Moines Water Works or to comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process or valid open records request.

7. Email Authorization

Customers using online payment services authorize Des Moines Water Works to send them e-mails and cannot opt out of receiving transactional e-mails related to their account with Des Moines Water Works.

8. Correcting and Updating Your Information

Customers may update or change their registration information by editing their user or organization record. To update a user profile, please log in to http://www.dmww.com with your Des Moines Water Works user name and password and click “My Web Profile.” 9. Customer Data

Des Moines Water Works Customers use the Services to host data and information (“Customer Data”). Des Moines Water Works will not review, share, distribute, or reference any such Customer Data except as provided in the Des Moines Water Works Master Subscription Agreement, or as may be required by law. Individual records of Customer Data may be viewed or accessed only for the purpose of resolving a problem, support issues, or suspected violation of the Des Moines Water Works Master Subscription Agreement, or as may be required by law. Customers are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of their Des Moines Water Works user names and passwords.

10. Security

Des Moines Water Works uses robust security measures to protect Customer Data from unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and help ensure the appropriate use of Customer Data. These technologies help ensure that Customer Data is safe, secure, and only available to the Customer to whom the information belongs and those to whom the Customer has granted access. Des Moines Water Works also implements an advanced security method based on dynamic data and encoded session identifications, and the Des Moines Water Works hosts its Web sites in a secure server environment that uses firewalls and other advanced technology to prevent interference or access from outside intruders. Because the Des Moines Water Works uses the Services to maintain Data About Des Moines Water Works Customers, this information is secured in the same manner as described for Customer Data.124. Changes to this Privacy Statement

Des Moines Water Works reserves the right to change this Privacy Statement. Des Moines Water Works will provide notification of the material changes to this Privacy Statement through the Company's Web sites prior to the change taking effect.

13. Contacting Us

Questions regarding this Privacy Statement or the information practices of the Company's Web sites should be directed to Des Moines Water Works Privacy by mailing Des Moines Water Works, Director of Customer Service and Marketing, 2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, Iowa, 50321.

Last updated: October, 2011

© 2011 Des Moines Water Works