This policy explains what the GW Monitoring Android app (“the app”) collects, why, and what you can do about it. The app is published free of charge by Hydro Geo Solutions LLP, 14/3, Mathura Road, Metro Pillar 564, Faridabad – 121003, Haryana, India (“HGS”, “we”). HGS is the Data Fiduciary for personal data processed through the app under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
1. What we collect
- Account details: your name, email address, organisation (optional) and password. Passwords are stored only in encrypted (hashed) form on our server.
- Field data you record: GPS location and accuracy of each observation point, measurements (water level, well depth and diameter, VES spread, EC, pH and similar), village, notes, the well owner's name if you enter it, site photographs, and project names and boundaries you create or load (KML, KMZ, Shapefile).
- Agreement record: the date and version of the Terms and data-sharing agreement you accepted.
- Device details: phone model, Android version, app version and a random app-installation identifier, used for the agreement record and for troubleshooting.
- Location: the app uses your phone's GPS only while you are recording a point, to stamp that point. It does not track you in the background.
- Camera and microphone: used only when you take a site photo or use a sound-based measurement inside the app.
We do not collect contacts, messages, call logs or advertising identifiers, and the app contains no advertising.
2. Why we use it
- To create and secure your account and to run the app, including storing and synchronising your records.
- For groundwater studies, research, groundwater databases and reports prepared by HGS, including work for HGS clients and government or research programmes. Field observations may be published or shared with clients in combined, summarised or anonymised form.
- To improve the app and fix problems.
- To send you service emails (email confirmation, password reset, important changes to these terms).
3. Consent
The app asks for your agreement before it can be used. By ticking both boxes you agree that the data you collect is shared with, stored and used by HGS as described here. You can withdraw consent at any time by writing to us (section 7); this stops further collection but does not affect use already made of data before withdrawal.
4. Who can see your data
- Public users can see and export only the records stored on their own phone. They cannot see other users' data.
- HGS staff and HGS-authorised collaborators can see field data on HGS's server for their project work.
- HGS clients may receive field observations as part of studies and reports.
- We do not sell your name or email address. We may disclose data where required by law or by a lawful order of a court or authority.
5. Where it is stored and how it is protected
Data is stored on servers operated by HGS (a self-hosted NocoDB database on HGS's own storage server) and transferred over encrypted HTTPS connections. Each HGS user's phone gets its own access key, which can be withdrawn. Public users' phones have no read access to the database at all. Records waiting to upload are kept in the app's private storage on your phone.
6. How long we keep it
Account details are kept while your account is active and deleted on request (section 7). Field observations are kept for as long as they are useful for groundwater records and studies; after an account is deleted, its observations are kept only in a form that does not identify you.
7. Your rights and how to contact us
You may ask to access, correct or delete your personal data, withdraw consent, or raise a grievance by emailing hydrogeosolutionsllp@gmail.com with the subject “GW Monitoring – privacy”. Please write from the email address of your account. We will reply within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may approach the Data Protection Board of India.
You can also export your own records at any time from My Data in the app.
8. Children
The app is meant for professionals, students and adults. It is not directed at children under 18, and we do not knowingly collect their data.
9. Changes
If this policy changes in a way that matters, the app will show the new version and ask for your agreement again before you continue.