Privacy Policy for RiverWatch
Last updated: September 7, 2026
RiverWatch is designed with your privacy in mind. This policy explains what information is collected, how it is used, and your choices.
Information We Collect
Location Data
- Purpose: To show nearby river monitoring stations on the map.
- Storage: Location is used in-session only and is never sent to our servers.
- Permission: You can deny location access; all app features except the “near me” map view will still work.
Local Storage
- Favorites: Saved stations and rivers are stored locally on your device only.
- Settings: User preferences (units, theme, region, chart style) are stored locally on your device.
Support Emails
When you contact support through the app’s “Contact Support” feature, your email is pre-filled with:
- App version (version name and code)
- Android version and API level
- Device manufacturer and model
This information is visible to you before sending and can be removed or edited. Support emails are retained for up to 12 months and may be used to diagnose device-specific issues.
Paddling Spot Submissions
If you submit a paddling spot, the following data is sent to and stored on our servers:
- Spot name, river name, section type, and difficulty rating
- GPS coordinates (put-in and take-out location, route path)
- Flow range and timing information you provide
- An optional contact email address, if you choose to provide one
- A randomly generated per-install identifier used for abuse prevention
This identifier is not linked to your Google account or device hardware. It resets if you reinstall the app.
Third-Party Services
Advertising (Google AdMob)
We display banner ads and rewarded ads through Google AdMob.
- AdMob may collect your Advertising ID and related signals for ad serving and measurement.
- This data is transmitted to and processed by Google.
- In regions covered by GDPR (EEA and UK): You will be shown a consent form before any personalized ads are served. You can review or change your ad personalization preferences at any time via Settings → Privacy Settings in the app.
- Outside regulated regions: Ads may be personalized based on your Advertising ID. You can limit ad tracking through Android’s standard Advertising ID settings.
- You can remove all ads by purchasing Ad-Free Lifetime or Ad-Free Monthly through in-app purchase.
- Subject to Google’s Privacy Policy.
Google Maps
- Used to display the interactive station map.
- May collect location and device data as required for map functionality.
- Subject to Google’s Privacy Policy.
Google Play Billing
- In-app purchases are processed entirely by Google Play. We do not collect or store your payment information.
- To prevent fraud, your Google Play purchase token is verified server-side after a purchase. No payment data is involved in this process — only the token Google already issued to your device.
USGS Water Services
Public US river monitoring data. No account or personal information required.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Public Canadian river monitoring data. No account or personal information required. Canadian data is made available under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Data Sharing
We do not:
- Sell your personal data.
- Share your data with third parties except as described above (Google Maps, Google AdMob, Google Play purchase verification).
- Run usage analytics or crash reporting beyond standard Google Play diagnostic logs.
Account & Data Deletion
Since RiverWatch stores your favorites and settings locally on your device, you can delete all app data at any time:
- Open your Android device Settings.
- Navigate to Apps > RiverWatch > Storage.
- Tap Clear Data or Clear Storage.
Alternatively, uninstalling the app permanently removes all locally stored data.
To request removal of a submitted paddling spot, email support@riverwatch.cc with the spot name and approximate submission date.
Children's Privacy
RiverWatch does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through the app, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy periodically. Changes will be posted to this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the app after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact