Privacy Policy

PNW Septic Guide ("PNW Septic Guide," "we," "us," or "our") operates PNWSepticGuide.com, an independent directory and informational resource for homeowners, property owners, real-estate participants, and septic and onsite-wastewater professionals.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, where it comes from, how we use and disclose it, and the choices available to you.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

We may collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

• create an account;
• claim or manage a provider listing;
• submit ownership or licensing information;
• submit a correction or data-quality report;
• contact us;
• communicate with support;
• update a provider profile;
• participate in future paid provider or sponsorship programs.

This information may include your name, email address, telephone number, business affiliation, account credentials, business ownership information, licensing information, service information, documents submitted for verification, and the content of communications you send to us.

Provider and Business Information

PNW Septic Guide publishes information about septic and onsite-wastewater businesses. This information may come from:

• government licensing databases and public records;
• provider websites;
• publicly available business information;
• provider-submitted information;
• claimed-provider accounts;
• corrections submitted to us;
• other sources we reasonably believe are reliable.

Provider information may include business names, public business addresses, telephone numbers, websites, public email addresses, license information, service categories, geographic service areas, and similar business information.

Some business information may relate to an individual operating a sole proprietorship or small business. We use this information for the purpose of maintaining the directory and providing accurate business information to users.

Usage and Technical Information

When you use the site, our systems and service providers may automatically collect limited technical and usage information, including:

• IP address;
• browser and device information;
• referring and destination pages;
• pages viewed;
• timestamps;
• search and navigation activity;
• provider-profile views;
• telephone-link clicks;
• website-link clicks;
• account and authentication events;
• diagnostic and security information.

We may use cookies, local storage, server logs, or similar technologies where necessary to operate, secure, measure, or improve the site.

We do not currently use precise device geolocation to determine your physical location.

Google Analytics

PNW Septic Guide uses Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate website usage and performance.

Google Analytics may collect information such as:

• pages viewed;
• referring source;
• browser and device information;
• approximate geographic information derived from IP address;
• interactions such as directory searches, provider profile views, phone-link clicks, and provider website clicks.

PNW Septic Guide does not intentionally send names, email addresses, telephone numbers, claim-form content, correction text, authentication information, or other directly identifying form data to Google Analytics.

Google's privacy information is available at:

https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/

2. How We Use Information

We may use information to:

• operate and maintain PNWSepticGuide.com;
• provide directory search and provider profiles;
• create and manage accounts;
• process provider listing claims;
• verify business ownership or authority to manage a listing;
• review licensing and provider information;
• maintain data accuracy;
• respond to corrections and support requests;
• send transactional emails concerning accounts, claims, corrections, listing reviews, security, and site administration;
• remind claimed providers to review or update their listing information;
• measure site usage and provider-profile activity;
• detect abuse, fraud, spam, or security problems;
• enforce our Terms of Use;
• comply with legal obligations;
• improve the directory and its content;
• administer future paid listings, Featured placements, sponsorships, or other provider services if those features are activated.

We try to limit collection and use of personal information to information reasonably necessary for these purposes.

3. Transactional Email

We may send transactional or relationship emails concerning:

• account verification;
• listing claims;
• claim approval or rejection;
• correction reports;
• listing-review reminders;
• account status;
• security;
• provider account administration;
• future billing or subscription activity.

Our automated system emails may be sent through Resend and may come from an address such as notifications@pnwsepticguide.com.

Replies may be directed to support@pnwsepticguide.com.

Transactional emails are part of providing the requested service and may not include an unsubscribe option where an unsubscribe mechanism is not required.

If we send promotional or marketing email in the future, we will provide applicable opt-out mechanisms.

4. How We Share Information

We do not currently sell personal information.

We may disclose information to service providers that help us operate the site, including providers of:

• website and application hosting;
• databases and authentication;
• cloud infrastructure;
• email delivery;
• domain and email hosting;
• analytics or performance measurement;
• security and fraud prevention;
• payment processing if paid services are enabled.

Current technology providers may include services such as Lovable, Supabase, Resend, GoDaddy, and Microsoft.

These providers may process information on our behalf in accordance with their respective services, contractual terms, and privacy practices.

We may also disclose information:

• when required by law, subpoena, court order, or other lawful process;
• when reasonably necessary to protect the security, rights, property, or safety of PNW Septic Guide, our users, providers, or others;
• in connection with a merger, acquisition, sale, financing, restructuring, or transfer of all or part of the business;
• with your direction or consent.

Public provider-profile information is intentionally displayed publicly as part of the directory.

5. Advertising and Paid Placement

PNW Septic Guide may offer clearly identified Featured listings, Sponsored placements, display advertising, or other paid promotional opportunities.

At present, generic display advertising may be disabled.

We do not currently sell personal information or use personal information for cross-site targeted advertising.

If our advertising or data practices materially change, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide choices or disclosures required by applicable law.

6. Payments

If paid provider plans, sponsorships, or other paid services are enabled, payment information may be processed by a third-party payment processor such as Stripe.

PNW Septic Guide does not intend to store complete payment-card numbers on its own servers.

The payment processor's own privacy policy and terms will apply to its processing of payment information.

7. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• provide the site and requested services;
• maintain provider and account records;
• resolve disputes;
• prevent fraud or abuse;
• maintain appropriate business records;
• comply with applicable legal obligations.

Retention periods may differ depending on the type of information and why it was collected.

We may retain limited records after deletion where reasonably necessary for security, legal compliance, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or enforcement.

8. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information.

No website, database, or transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You use online services at your own risk and should use a strong, unique password for your account.

Do not send highly sensitive personal information through ordinary support email unless we specifically request it through an appropriate process.

9. Your Choices and Privacy Requests

You may contact us to request that we:

• provide information about personal information associated with your account;
• correct inaccurate personal information;
• delete certain personal information;
• update account or provider information;
• address a privacy concern.

Send requests to:

support@pnwsepticguide.com

We may need to verify your identity or authority before completing a request.

Some information may be retained or excluded from a request where permitted or required by law, including information necessary for security, fraud prevention, recordkeeping, legal compliance, or establishing or defending legal claims.

Provider corrections involving public licensing or regulatory information may require independent verification before we change a directory record.

10. Oregon and Other State Privacy Rights

Certain state privacy laws provide additional rights to residents when a business meets applicable legal thresholds.

The Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, for example, applies to businesses meeting specified personal-data processing or revenue thresholds.

If PNW Septic Guide becomes subject to the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act or another applicable comprehensive privacy law, eligible consumers may have additional rights, including rights relating to access, correction, deletion, portability, information about certain disclosures, and opt-out rights.

We will honor legally applicable privacy rights and update our practices as necessary if our legal obligations change.

11. Global Privacy Control and Opt-Out Signals

PNW Septic Guide does not currently sell personal information or use personal information for targeted advertising as those concepts are generally understood under comprehensive state privacy laws.

If we begin processing information in a manner requiring recognition of universal opt-out signals such as Global Privacy Control, we will implement applicable mechanisms as required by law.

12. Children

PNW Septic Guide is intended for property owners, consumers, and business professionals and is not directed to children under 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Provider accounts, listing claims, and other business-management features are intended for individuals age 18 or older.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact support@pnwsepticguide.com.

13. Third-Party Websites

Provider profiles and articles may contain links to third-party websites.

We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their privacy practices, security, content, or services. Review the privacy policies of third-party sites before providing information to them.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the site, technology, business model, or legal requirements change.

We will post the updated policy on this page and update the effective date.

Material changes may also be communicated by other reasonable means where appropriate.

15. Contact Us

Questions or privacy requests may be sent to:

PNW Septic Guide
support@pnwsepticguide.com
https://pnwsepticguide.com