How uswaterbillguide.org/ Uses Cookies and Similar Technologies
This page sets out the cookies and similar technologies we use, what each does, how long it lasts, and the choices you have under California’s CCPA / CPRA, Virginia’s VCDPA, Colorado’s CPA, Connecticut’s CTDPA, Utah’s UCPA, Texas’s TDPSA, and the other US state privacy laws. Read it alongside our Privacy Policy.
What is on this page
1. What Cookies Are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels, and SDKs. They allow a website to remember your preferences, keep your visit working smoothly, measure usage, and (when you consent) support personalized advertising. This page covers all of these technologies under the general term “cookies.”
The United States does not have an omnibus federal privacy law equivalent to the EU’s GDPR. Instead, cookies are governed by a combination of state privacy laws (CCPA / CPRA, VCDPA, CPA, CTDPA, UCPA, TDPSA, OCDPA, DPDPA, TIPA, NHPA, NJDPA, MTCDPA, ICDPA, and others), the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the federal Federal Trade Commission Act § 5 (which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices in trade or commerce), and state UDAP laws.
2. Why We Use Cookies
- To make the site work — load pages, remember your cookie preferences, protect against abuse
- To remember your preferences — state preference, font-size choice, accessibility preferences
- To understand what is useful — aggregated, anonymized analytics on which directory pages are read most
- To support display advertising — frequency capping and basic measurement, with personalized advertising only where you have not opted out
3. The Four Categories of Cookie
1. Strictly necessary
Essential for the site to function. Always on; cannot be switched off.
2. Functional
Remember preferences (state preference, font size, accessibility settings). On unless you opt out.
3. Analytics
Aggregated usage measurement. On unless you opt out via banner or GPC.
4. Advertising
Frequency capping, measurement, and personalized advertising. Subject to state opt-out rights (CCPA / VCDPA / CPA / others). GPC honored.
4. First-Party Cookies (Set by uswaterbillguide.org/)
| Name | Purpose | Category | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| uswbg_consent | Records your cookie-consent choice | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| uswbg_session | Maintains page-load state during your visit | Strictly necessary | Session |
| uswbg_csrf | Cross-site request forgery protection on contact form | Strictly necessary | Session |
| uswbg_pref | Stores accessibility / UI preferences | Functional | 6 months |
| uswbg_gpc | Records that we received your Global Privacy Control signal | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
5. Third-Party Cookies
Where you have not opted out, the site may set cookies from these third parties. Each has its own privacy and cookie policy.
| Provider | Purpose | Category | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 (GA4) | Aggregated site analytics | Analytics | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising; frequency capping; measurement | Advertising | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare | Site security, bot mitigation, performance (CDN) | Strictly necessary | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
6. US State Privacy Framework
Your rights depend on where you live:
| State | Key cookie-related rights |
|---|---|
| California (CCPA / CPRA) | Opt-out of “sale” and “sharing” (cross-context behavioral advertising); limit use of sensitive personal information; non-discrimination |
| Virginia (VCDPA) | Opt-out of targeted advertising, sale, and profiling for legal effect |
| Colorado (CPA) | Opt-out of targeted advertising, sale, and profiling; honor universal opt-out signals (UODP) |
| Connecticut (CTDPA) | Opt-out of targeted advertising, sale, and profiling |
| Utah (UCPA) | Opt-out of targeted advertising and sale |
| Texas (TDPSA) | Opt-out of targeted advertising, sale, and profiling |
| Oregon, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, Montana, Iowa | Substantially similar opt-out rights, on staggered effective dates |
We honor opt-out requests through the cookie banner, the “Cookie settings” link in the footer, and (for all states with comparable rights) the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal.
7. Global Privacy Control (GPC)
The site honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a valid opt-out from “sharing” / cross-context behavioral advertising under California’s CPRA, Colorado’s CPA, and other state laws that recognize universal opt-out signals. If your browser sends a GPC signal, we treat it as an opt-out from advertising cookies and from any handling of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
8. How to Manage Cookies
- Cookie banner — accept, reject, or customize on first visit
- “Cookie settings” link in the footer — change your choice at any time; California “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link also available
- Browser controls — block or delete cookies in your browser settings (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave); block third-party cookies entirely if you prefer
- Private / Incognito browsing — cookies are deleted when the window closes
- GPC-enabled browser — Brave, Firefox (with extension), and DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser send a GPC signal automatically
9. Industry Opt-Out Tools
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) — optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) WebChoices — optout.aboutads.info
- DAA AppChoices (mobile) — youradchoices.com/appchoices
- Google Ads settings — adssettings.google.com
10. Do Not Track
The browser-level Do Not Track (DNT) signal is no longer supported by major browsers and the original DNT specification was never finalized. We honor the more current Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in its place — see Section 7.
11. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We update this policy when our practices change or when applicable state or federal law changes (the US state privacy patchwork has been expanding rapidly). The “Last reviewed” date at the top reflects the current version. Substantive changes will be re-prompted through the cookie banner where applicable.
12. Contact
For any cookie or privacy question, email info@uswaterbillguide.org with subject line “Cookie inquiry” — see our Privacy Policy for the full state-by-state rights framework, and our notes on complaints to the FTC, your state Attorney General, and (for California residents) the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA).
Manage Your Cookie Preferences Any Time
Use the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer to change your choice. Your decision is remembered for 12 months from when you set it.
📧 info@uswaterbillguide.org