The Waterfall Guide

Your data

Privacy Policy

Edited by The Waterfall Guide editorial teamLast updated

The short version

  • There are no accounts, logins, comments, newsletters or forms on this site.
  • Google Analytics counts visits and sets two cookies.
  • Maps load map tiles from OpenStreetMap and a map library from cdnjs. Both run only when a map is shown.
  • Our web host keeps standard server logs.
  • If you use "Show falls near me", the distance is worked out in your browser. We don't send your location to our server.

This page describes how the site works today. It is not legal advice. To learn more about the site itself, see the about page.

Services that receive data when you visit

We don't ask you for any personal information. The services below receive some technical data when you visit. Each one follows its own privacy policy.

Google Analytics 4

We use Google Analytics 4 to count visits and see which pages people read. It loads a script from googletagmanager.com with a standard setup. It runs only on the live site at thewaterfallguides.com. Local copies and previews don't load it.

Google says that when you visit a site using its services, "your web browser automatically sends certain information to Google. This includes the URL of the page you're visiting and your IP address." Google may also set or read cookies. See how Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Google says that in Google Analytics 4, IP addresses "are not logged or stored." See Google's page on IP addresses in Analytics.

Map tiles from OpenStreetMap

Our maps use tiles from tile.openstreetmap.org. Tiles load only when a map is shown, and maps load only when you scroll near one.

When your browser asks for tiles, the OpenStreetMap Foundation receives data such as your IP address, browser and device type, operating system and the referring web page. Read the OSMF Privacy Policy and the Tile Usage Policy.

The map library from cdnjs (Cloudflare)

The Leaflet map library loads from cdnjs.cloudflare.com, but only when a map is shown. cdnjs is powered by Cloudflare.

Cloudflare's general privacy policy says the end-user data it processes may include IP addresses. It has no statement specific to cdnjs. See the Cloudflare Privacy Policy.

Hosting logs

The site is hosted on Namecheap shared hosting. Namecheap keeps access logs for the server. Namecheap says these logs include the client IP address, a timestamp, the request, the referrer and the user agent (your browser details).

Namecheap says log collection can't be turned off for individual visitors on a shared hosting account. See Namecheap's article on visitor information.

What doesn't send data

Our fonts are hosted on our own server, so no font service sees your visit. The Share button uses your device's share sheet or copies the link. Nothing is sent to us.

Cookies

Google Analytics sets these two cookies. The details below come from Google's cookie usage page.

Cookie Purpose Default expiration
_ga Used to distinguish users 2 years
_ga_<container-id> Used to persist session state 2 years

How to opt out

You have a few simple options:

  • Block Google Analytics. Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
  • Manage cookies. Use your browser settings to block or delete cookies.
  • Avoid the maps. Map tiles and the map library load only when a map is shown. If you don't scroll to a map or open the map page, they don't load.
  • Decline location requests. "Show falls near me" works only if you allow it.

Depending on where you live, you may have other rights under local law. Contact us with any request and we will do our best to help.

"Show falls near me" and your location

The "Show falls near me" button uses your browser's Geolocation API. Your browser asks for your permission first. Location is only available on secure (HTTPS) pages. See MDN's guide to the Geolocation API.

If you allow it, the distance to each waterfall is worked out in your browser. We don't send your location to our server. You can say no to the request. You can also change the permission in your browser settings at any time.

What we don't do

  • We don't sell personal data.
  • We don't run advertising networks.
  • We don't have accounts or logins.
  • We don't run email lists or newsletters.
  • We don't have comment sections or forms.

Children

This site is for a general audience. It is not directed to children under 13. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you think a child has sent us personal information by email, contact us and we will delete it.

Affiliate partners

There are no active affiliate links on the site today. If we add affiliate partners later, they may set their own cookies when you use their links or widgets. We will update this page before that happens. See our affiliate disclosure.

Changes to this policy

Before we add a new third-party service or affiliate partner, we will update this page first. If anything else changes how the site uses data, we will update this page and the date at the top.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Email hello@thewaterfallguides.com or see the contact page.

If you email us, we receive your email address and your message. We use them to reply and to fix the page, and we delete them if you ask.