Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 12, 2026
Who We Are
The wellcare® Hotline is a service of the wellcare® program of the Water Systems Council (WSC), a national nonprofit organization focused on private water wells and small well-based drinking water systems.
The wellcare® Hotline website provides information, educational resources, and assistance to private well owners and others seeking information about wells, well water, septic systems, and related topics.
Our website address is: https://www.wellcarehotline.org
Water Systems Council
1101 30th St NW, Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20007
Information We Collect
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when you use our website or services. This may include information submitted when you:
- Ask a question through our website.
- Contact the wellcare® Hotline by chat, email, or telephone.
- Join the wellcare® Well Owners Network.
- Subscribe to newsletters or other communications.
- Request publications or other resources.
- Participate in surveys, forms, or other website activities.
Depending on the service you use, information may include your name, address, telephone number, email address, and other information you choose to provide.
The Ask a Question and Olark Chat forms currently requests your name, address, telephone number, email address, and question so that our staff can respond appropriately.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically, including your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and general website usage information.
This information may be used to maintain website security, prevent spam, improve website functionality, understand how visitors use our website, and improve our services.
Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to provide website functionality, remember preferences, improve security, analyze website traffic, and support other website features.
Third-party services used on the website may also use cookies or similar technologies.
You may control or disable cookies through your web browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of portions of the website.
Ask a Question and Live Chat
When you submit a question through the wellcare® Hotline website or communicate with us through our live chat feature, information you provide may be collected and used to respond to your inquiry and provide appropriate educational resources or referrals.
The wellcare® Hotline may retain communications as reasonably necessary for organizational, administrative, quality assurance, and recordkeeping purposes.
The Hotline currently provides both an online question form and live chat assistance.
Well Owners Network
The wellcare® Well Owners Network is a free educational membership program provided through WSC’s wellcare® program.
The Well Owners Network provides educational information, newsletters, resources, and other benefits to private well owners.
If you join the Well Owners Network, we may collect your name, email address, and other information necessary to provide membership communications and services.
WSC does not sell its mailing lists. Members may unsubscribe from communications at any time.
Email Communications
If you provide your email address or subscribe to the wellcare® Well Owners Network, you may receive newsletters, educational information, program updates, and other communications related to wellcare® and WSC.
You may unsubscribe from non-essential communications at any time by using the unsubscribe option provided in the communication or by contacting us.
Unsubscribing from informational or promotional communications does not necessarily prevent us from sending communications necessary to respond to a specific request or provide a service you have requested.
Website Analytics and Third-Party Services
We may use third-party service providers to help operate, maintain, secure, and analyze our website and communications.
These providers may collect information about your use of the website, including technical information and website activity, in accordance with their own privacy policies.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Our website may include embedded content such as videos, images, articles, maps, learning modules, or other materials provided by third parties.
Embedded content may behave in the same way as if you had visited the third-party website directly. Those websites may collect information, use cookies or other tracking technologies, and monitor your interaction with their content.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party websites and services.
How We Use Your Information
Information collected by the wellcare® Hotline may be used to:
- Respond to questions and requests.
- Provide educational information and resources.
- Provide referrals to appropriate agencies, laboratories, water well professionals, or other resources.
- Administer the Well Owners Network.
- Send requested newsletters and communications.
- Improve our website, programs, and services.
- Maintain website security and prevent spam or misuse.
- Maintain appropriate organizational records.
- Comply with applicable legal requirements.
Who We Share Your Information With
WSC does not sell or rent your personal information or mailing lists.
We may share information with trusted service providers that assist us with website hosting, forms, email communications, website security, analytics, membership administration, or other organizational functions.
We may also disclose information when required by law, legal process, or governmental request, or when necessary to protect the rights, property, safety, or security of WSC, the wellcare® Hotline, our users, or others.
How Long We Retain Your Information
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to requests, administer programs, maintain appropriate organizational records, provide requested services, comply with legal requirements, and resolve disputes.
The length of time information is retained may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information we maintain about you.
To submit a privacy-related request, contact us using the information below.
We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.
Where We Send Your Data
Information submitted through our website may be processed by third-party service providers that assist with website hosting, forms, email communications, analytics, security, spam prevention, membership services, or other website functions.
Information submitted through website forms may be checked through automated spam detection or security services.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Third-Party Links
The wellcare® Hotline website provides links to federal, state, local, nonprofit, commercial, and other third-party resources. We do not use AI tools in our direct operations. We are not responsible for any AI features used by third-party platforms or linked websites, and we disclaim all liability for their actions or outputs.
These links are provided for informational purposes. WSC does not control or necessarily endorse third-party websites, products, services, or information.
WSC is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites.
Children's Privacy
The wellcare® Hotline website is intended for general audiences and is not directed toward children under the age of 13.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the website.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
WSC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our website, programs, services, or practices.
Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us:
Water Systems Council
1101 30th St NW, Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20007
Phone: 202-625-4387
wellcare® Hotline: 888-395-1033
Email: info@wellcarehotline.org
Website: https://www.wellcarehotline.org