Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 10, 2025

About Aquawise: Aquawise is an IoT solutions provider that offers smart farm management systems to farm owners. Our mobile application allows farm owners to monitor and control their farm operations remotely through personalized dashboards. Each user accesses their specific farm data based on their credentials.

This Privacy Policy explains how Aquawise ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards your information when you use our mobile application (available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store) and IoT farm management platform. Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the application.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Log in to access your farm dashboard
Use the application features
Contact us for support
Update your profile settings

This information may include:

Name (First name and Last name)
Email address
Password (encrypted and securely stored)
Farm identification and credentials
User role and permissions
Contact information

1.2 Farm and IoT Device Data

Our application collects data from IoT devices installed at your farm, including but not limited to:

Environmental Data: Temperature, humidity, weather conditions
Water Management: Bore level, water meter flow, pressure readings (inlet, outlet, differential)
Irrigation Systems: Station status, irrigation schedules, cycle times, valve controls
Equipment Status: VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) speed and status, pump operations
Frost Protection: Frost station status and controls
Device Information: Device connectivity, online/offline status, device health
Alarms and Notifications: System alerts, warnings, and operational notifications
Historical Data: Time-series data for analysis and reporting

1.3 Usage and Technical Information

When you access our application, we automatically collect certain information:

Device type, model, and operating system (iOS/Android)
Mobile device identifiers
IP address and location data (if permitted)
Browser type and version
Access times, dates, and duration
Application usage patterns and interactions
Dashboard views and feature usage
Error logs and crash reports

1.4 Multi-Farm Access

If you have access to multiple farm dashboards, we collect information about:

Which farms you have access to
Your role and permissions for each farm
Dashboard switching and navigation patterns
Farm-specific settings and preferences

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Account Management: To create, maintain, and secure your user account with credential-based access
Multi-Farm Access: To provide access to multiple farm dashboards based on your permissions and credentials
Service Delivery: To provide, operate, and maintain our IoT farm management platform
Real-Time Monitoring: To enable real-time monitoring and control of irrigation systems, pumps, and farm equipment
Data Visualization: To display farm data through personalized dashboards, graphs, and reports
Automation: To execute scheduled tasks, irrigation cycles, and automated controls
Alerts and Notifications: To send you critical alerts, alarms, and notifications about your farm operations
Analytics: To analyze farm data and provide insights for better farm management decisions
Security: To authenticate users, prevent unauthorized access, and protect your data
Platform Improvements: To improve our application, develop new features, and enhance user experience
Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries, troubleshoot issues, and provide technical assistance
Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms of service

3. Data Storage and Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information and farm data:

Encryption: All data transmission is encrypted using HTTPS/SSL protocols
Authentication: Secure user authentication using JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
Access Controls: Role-based access control ensuring users only access authorized farm dashboards
Password Security: Passwords are encrypted using industry-standard hashing algorithms
Secure Storage: Data is stored on secure, protected servers with regular backups
Network Security: Firewalls and intrusion detection systems protect our infrastructure
Regular Updates: Security patches and updates are applied regularly
Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activities and security threats

However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Farm Owners and Authorized Users: Farm data is shared only with users who have been granted access by the farm owner
Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform (e.g., cloud hosting providers, analytics services) under strict confidentiality agreements
IoT Device Manufacturers: Technical data may be shared with device manufacturers for troubleshooting and support purposes
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, subpoena, or government regulation
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with prior notice to affected users
Protection of Rights: To protect our rights, property, safety, or that of our users, farm owners, or others
With Your Consent: When you explicitly consent to sharing your information with specific third parties

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information and farm data for as long as necessary to:

Provide our services to you and maintain your account
Maintain historical farm data for analysis and reporting
Comply with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations
Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
Support business operations and continuity

When you close your account or your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it within a reasonable timeframe, unless retention is required by law.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: You can access and review your personal information through your profile settings
Correction: You can update or correct your personal information at any time
Deletion: You can request deletion of your account and associated personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format
Opt-Out: You can opt-out of receiving non-essential notifications and marketing communications
Password Management: You can change your password at any time through the profile settings
Dashboard Access: You can manage which farm dashboards you access (subject to permissions granted by farm owners)
Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw consent for data processing where consent is the legal basis

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section.

7. Children's Privacy

Our application is not intended for children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information from our systems.

8. Third-Party Services and Links

Our application may contain links to third-party websites, services, or integrations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information. Third-party services may include:

Weather data providers
Mapping and location services
Analytics platforms
Cloud storage providers

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including New Zealand and other jurisdictions where our servers and service providers are located. These countries may have different data protection laws than your country. By using our application, you consent to such transfers. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

10. Platform-Specific Information

10.1 Google Play Store (Android)

When you download our app from Google Play Store, Google may collect certain information as described in their privacy policy. We comply with Google Play's data safety requirements and disclose our data collection practices accordingly.

10.2 Apple App Store (iOS)

When you download our app from Apple App Store, Apple may collect certain information as described in their privacy policy. We comply with Apple's App Store privacy requirements and provide nutrition labels disclosing our data collection practices.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

Maintain your login session
Remember your preferences and settings
Analyze usage patterns and improve our services
Provide personalized dashboard experiences
Ensure security and prevent fraud

You can control cookies through your browser or device settings. However, disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our application.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated Privacy Policy on this page
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top
Sending you a notification through the application or email
Requiring you to accept the updated policy before continuing to use the app (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Data Protection Rights (GDPR/CCPA)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or California, you may have additional rights under GDPR or CCPA, including:

Right to be informed about data collection and use
Right to access your personal data
Right to rectification of inaccurate data
Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
Right to restrict processing
Right to data portability
Right to object to processing
Rights related to automated decision-making

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

14. Consent and Acceptance

By downloading, installing, or using the Aquawise mobile application, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our application.

For farm owners: By granting access to other users for your farm dashboard, you acknowledge that those users will have access to farm data according to the permissions you set.