Ofwat processes personal information to enable it to carry out its regulatory functions which may include the consideration and investigation of complaints, policy development, licensing and enforcement action, providing advice and information, research, internal functions including accounts and records, supporting and managing Ofwat employees, general administration and all activities which Ofwat is required to carry out as a data controller.
When do we collect information about people?
- visitors to our websites;
- people who use our services, e.g. who subscribe to our RSS feeds, e-newsletters, social media site, email alerts or request a publication from us;
- people who email Ofwat
- people who engage with Ofwat as part of carrying out our regulatory functions in the Water Industry;
- people who make inquiries about any environmental schemes that Ofwat administers;
- people who contact us in relation to information requests, complaints and general queries;
- job applicants and our current and former employees.
How we use your information
We will use the information you provide in a manner that conforms to the Data Protection Act. We will endeavour to keep your information accurate and up to date and not keep it for longer than is necessary. In some instances the law sets the length of time information has to be kept.
We will process your information for the following purposes:-
- in connection with the information or service you have requested and to monitor and improve Ofwat’s performance in responding to your request
- to allow us to be able to communicate and provide services appropriate to your needs
- to ensure that we meet our legal and/or statutory obligations
- where necessary for any law enforcement functions
- for the prevention and detection of fraud and/or crime
- to process financial transactions including payments involving Ofwat as an employer or where we are acting on behalf of other government bodies, e.g. Department for Work and Pensions
- to collect monies owed to us
- recruitment and management of staff
- where necessary to protect individuals from harm or injury
- to allow the statistical analysis of data so we can plan the provision of services in accordance with our statutory functions.
We will not pass any personal data on to third parties, other than those who either process information on our behalf, or because of a legal requirement, and we will only do so, where possible, after we have ensured that sufficient steps have been taken to protect the personal data by the recipient.
We will not disclose any information that you provide ‘in confidence’ to us, to anyone else without your permission, except in any situation where disclosure is required by law, or where we have good reason to believe that failing to share the information would put someone else at risk.
We may process your information overseas using web services that are hosted outside the European Economic Area, but only with data processing agreements that meet our obligations under the Data Protection Act.
For more information contact the Data Protection Officer [email protected] or telephone 0121 644 7664.