Privacy Policy

1. Overview

PoolTaken ("we", "us", or "our"), accessible at https://pooltaken.com, provides online swimming pool calculation tools, water chemistry guidance, and pool equipment sizing estimators. We are committed to protecting the privacy, personal data, and choices of our global visitors, particularly those residing in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Economic Area (EEA).

You can freely use our interactive pool calculators without registering an account, providing a credit card, or submitting identifying personal information.

2. Information We Collect

We collect limited information to operate, secure, and improve our website:

• Automated Log Data: When you access PoolTaken, our web hosting servers automatically record standard HTTP request headers, IP address (anonymized where required by law), browser type, referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamps, and clickstream data.
• Calculator Inputs: Numerical values you enter into calculators (e.g. pool dimensions, water test ppm readings, heater BTU targets) are processed entirely client-side in your web browser. We do not store or transmit your private calculation figures to external databases.
• Voluntary Correspondence: If you contact us via email at info@pooltaken.com or support@pooltaken.com, or submit a form inquiry, we collect your name, email address, and message contents solely to address your question.

3. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by a web server. We categorize cookies used on PoolTaken into three distinct types:

• Essential / Technical Cookies: Necessary for core site functionality, responsive navigation, and remembering your cookie preference selection. These cannot be switched off.
• Analytical Cookies: Help us aggregate anonymous traffic statistics to understand which calculators are most popular and identify calculation errors or broken layouts.
• Advertising Cookies: Used by authorized third-party ad networks (such as Google AdSense) to measure ad performance, prevent ad fraud, and display relevant, non-intrusive advertisements.

You can adjust your browser settings at any time to reject or delete cookies. Note that disabling cookies may affect some convenience features on our site.

4. Google AdSense & Third-Party Advertising Disclosures

PoolTaken is monetized through third-party advertising services, including Google AdSense. Because we serve visitors from the US, UK, and Europe, we adhere strictly to Google's Advertising Policies and requirements:

• Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies (including the DoubleClick DART cookie) to serve advertisements on PoolTaken.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to our users based on their visits to PoolTaken and other sites across the Internet.
• Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting the Google Ads Settings page.
• Alternatively, you can opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info (US) or www.youronlinechoices.eu (EEA/UK).

We do not sell user data to data brokers. Ad networks display advertisements under their respective privacy policies and standardized industry frameworks.

5. How We Use Information

Any technical data or email correspondence received is used exclusively to:

• Maintain server stability, detect malicious activity, and protect against DDoS or bot attacks.
• Improve calculation algorithms, formula accuracy, and mobile layout usability.
• Respond promptly to user technical questions, feedback, and bug reports.
• Comply with applicable legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.

6. European Economic Area (EEA) & UK Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you reside in the EEA or the United Kingdom, you have guaranteed statutory rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK Data Protection Act 2018:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete records.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your contact email history.
• Right to Restrict or Object: Restrict or object to our processing of your personal data.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your cookie consent at any time via our Cookie Settings banner.

To exercise any GDPR or UK rights, please email us at privacy@pooltaken.com. We will respond within 30 days without charge.

7. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA & CPRA)

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents have specific privacy protections:

• Right to Know: You may request the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected in the preceding 12 months.
• Right to Delete: You may request the deletion of personal information collected directly from you.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will never deny services, charge different rates, or provide lower quality service because you exercised your CCPA rights.
• Notice of "Do Not Sell or Share": PoolTaken does not sell or share personal information for monetary or valuable consideration as defined under California law.

8. Security & Data Retention

We enforce industry-standard HTTPS (TLS/SSL) encryption across 100% of pages on PoolTaken. Server logs are automatically purged on a rolling 90-day cycle. While no transmission method across the Internet is completely infallible, we maintain reasonable administrative and technical safeguards against unauthorized access, loss, or alteration.

9. Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA)

PoolTaken is a general-interest pool utility resource and is not directed at children under 13 years of age (or under 16 in the EEA/UK). We do not knowingly solicit or collect personal information from minors. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please notify us immediately so we can expunge the data.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect technological adjustments, new calculators, updated advertising standards, or evolving legal requirements. The updated document will be published with a revised "Effective Date" at the top of this page.

11. Contact Information

If you have questions, feedback, or data requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our site operations, please reach out: