Know Before
You Go In.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 2026

SafeWater is built on a simple principle: you should be able to check water safety without handing over your personal information. This policy explains exactly what we collect, why, and what we don't.

What We Collect

• Location data — Your search query or GPS coordinates are used to look up conditions for your spot. Coordinates are cached in our database to improve performance on repeat searches. We do not track your location in the background.
• Anonymous device ID — We assign a randomly generated anonymous ID to your device via Supabase anonymous authentication. This is not linked to your name, email address, or any personal account. It exists solely to associate your saved spots and push notification subscription with your device.
• Saved spots — If you save a location to Favorites or Alerts, we store the place name and coordinates linked to your anonymous device ID.
• Community reports — If you submit a hazard report, we store the location text, report type, and timestamp. Reports are not linked to your identity in any way.
• Push notification tokens — If you enable alerts, we store your device's push token to send you safety notifications. This is linked only to your anonymous device ID.

What We Don't Collect

• No name or email address
• No account login or password
• No payment information
• No background location tracking
• No advertising identifiers
• No data shared with third parties for marketing or advertising

How We Use Your Data

All collected data is used solely to operate the SafeWater service — looking up conditions for your location, storing your saved spots, and sending safety alerts you've opted into. We do not sell your data. We do not use it for advertising.

Third-Party Services

• Supabase — Database and backend hosting (supabase.com)
• Mapbox — Location search and geocoding (mapbox.com)
• NOAA, EPA, FWC, Texas GLO, CA Water Boards, OCEARCH, GSAF — Public water safety data sources

Data Retention

Community reports expire automatically after 24 hours. Saved spots and push notification subscriptions are stored until you remove them within the app. Geocode cache entries are retained to improve performance on repeat searches.

Your Rights

Because we collect no personally identifiable information, there is no personal account associated with you. All data is tied to an anonymous device ID. You can remove saved spots and disable push notifications at any time inside the app. Uninstalling the app removes your local session.

Children's Privacy

SafeWater is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

If we make material changes to this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

Questions about your privacy? Email us at support@safewaterapp.com.