Privacy and cookies

watermaze.org is run by HVS Image. This page explains what the site collects and the choices you have.

Cookies

When you first visit, a banner asks whether we may use cookies. Until you choose, and if you say no, the site sets no cookies and loads no Google scripts. You can accept or reject each type separately:

• Analytics (Google Analytics 4). Tells us which pages are read, how people find the site and which links they follow, so we can improve it. Google Analytics sets the cookies _ga and _ga_<ID> on watermaze.org; they last up to 2 years. Google explains these in Google Analytics cookie usage on websites.
• Advertising (Google Ads remarketing). Lets HVS Image show its adverts to people who have visited watermaze.org, on Google and partner sites. Google Ads may set the cookie _gcl_au on watermaze.org (up to 90 days) and its own advertising cookies on Google's domains. We do not send your name, email address or other personal details to Google.

Your choice is saved in your browser's local storage (not a cookie) for six months, so the banner doesn't keep coming back.

To change your choice, use the Cookie settings link at the bottom of every page. If you withdraw consent, the page reloads without the Google scripts. Cookies already set stay in your browser until they expire, unless you delete them in your browser settings.

We use Google Consent Mode, which means Google's tags are told "no" by default and only switch on for the type you accept.

Opting out of Google ads and analytics

As well as the banner, you can:

• change or turn off personalised ads from Google in My Ad Center (Google ad settings);
• read how Google uses information from sites that use its services;
• install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on;
• turn off interest-based ads from many companies at Your Online Choices.

Google processes this data under its own privacy policy and may process it outside the UK.

Search

Search runs in your browser. What you type is not sent to us.

Server logs

Like most websites, our web host keeps standard server logs, for example the address of the page requested and the time.

These server logs are kept by our hosting provider (Netlify) under its own retention policy. They are used only to keep the site running and secure.

Links to other sites

Some pages link to other sites, including hvsimage.com. Links to hvsimage.com carry tags in the address (for example utm_source=watermaze.org) so HVS Image can see that the visit came from this site. Those sites have their own privacy policies.

Contact

Questions about privacy? Contact us.