Last updated: May 2026
This page explains what information we collect, what we don't, and why.
The Short Version
We collect minimal analytics to understand how people use the site. We don't track you personally, don't sell data, and don't use creepy advertising technology. Your ZIP code lookups aren't logged with identifying information. If you enter an address to check your distance from a facility, we calculate it and forget it - nothing stored.
What We Collect
Analytics (Umami)
We use Umami, a privacy-focused analytics tool, to understand:
- How many people visit the site
- Which pages are popular
- What devices/browsers people use
- Where traffic comes from (in general terms)
What makes this privacy-respecting:
- No cookies required
- No personal data stored
- No cross-site tracking
- Data is aggregated, not individual
- Hosted by us, not a third party
We use this to know if the site is working and what content people find useful. That's it.
ZIP Code Lookups
When you enter a ZIP code to check nearby facilities, we process that request to return results. We don't:
- Log which ZIP codes you searched
- Associate searches with your identity
- Build profiles of your location interests
- Store your search history
The lookup happens, you get results, we forget about it.
Browser Location (If You Allow It)
If you choose to use browser geolocation ("use my location"), that data:
- Is processed client-side to find your ZIP code
- Is not sent to our servers in raw form
- Is not stored anywhere
- Is entirely optional
You can always just type a ZIP code instead.
Distance Calculations (Address or ZIP+4)
On facility pages, you can check how far you are from a specific facility. Here's what happens:
If you enter your address:
- Your address is sent to a geocoding service to get coordinates
- We calculate the distance between those coordinates and the facility
- We show you the result and highlight the appropriate preparedness guidance
- Your address is not stored - not in our database, not in logs, nowhere
The geocoding service sees your address to convert it to coordinates. We use privacy-respecting services where possible, but be aware that a third party processes this request.
If you use ZIP+4: A privacy-friendlier option. Your ZIP+4 code (the 9-digit version on your mail) gives us approximate coordinates without revealing your exact address. Same process: geocode, calculate, display, forget.
What we don't do:
- Store your address or coordinates
- Log which addresses were looked up
- Associate lookups with any identifier
- Build any kind of location history
The calculation happens in memory, you get your answer, and the data evaporates.
What We Don't Collect
Let's be explicit:
- No personal information - We don't ask for names, emails, or accounts
- No tracking cookies - We don't follow you around the internet
- No advertising - We don't show ads or share data with ad networks
- No third-party trackers - No Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or similar
- No user profiles - We don't know who you are
- No data sales - We have nothing to sell
Data Retention
Analytics data is retained in aggregate form for understanding long-term trends. Since we don't collect personal data, there's nothing personal to retain or delete.
Third-Party Services
Hosting
The site is hosted on infrastructure we control. Your requests go to our servers, not through third-party services that might log them.
Maps
If we display maps (via MapLibre GL), map tiles may be loaded from third-party tile servers. These requests are subject to those providers' privacy policies. We use open/privacy-respecting tile sources where possible.
External Links
We link to external resources (EPA, CDC, etc.). Once you leave our site, their privacy policies apply.
Your Rights
Even though we don't collect personal data, you have the right to:
- Ask what we have - We'll tell you (it's nothing identifiable)
- Request deletion - Happy to, but there's nothing personal to delete
- Opt out of analytics - Use a browser extension like uBlock Origin, or enable Do Not Track
- Contact us - With any privacy questions or concerns
Children's Privacy
We don't knowingly collect any personal information from anyone, including children. The site contains educational content about chemical safety that may be relevant to families, but we don't target or track any age group.
Changes to This Policy
If we change how we handle data, we'll update this page and the date at the top. We'll never add invasive tracking without clear notice.
Contact
Privacy questions?
- Email: amarx@xram.net
- GitHub: https://github.com/atmarx/checkyourzone
We wrote this policy to be readable because privacy policies shouldn't require a law degree. If something's unclear, tell us.