Last updated: 25 July 2026
Privacy Policy
We built FindMyHydrant to save time when it matters most – not to collect information for its own sake. This page explains what we gather, why we gather it, and what say you have over it. If anything here doesn’t make sense, email us and we’ll explain it properly.
FindMyHydrant NPC (Reg. 2026/469709/08) is the “responsible party” for your information under South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
The short version
We collect the minimum we need to run a reliable, community-verified hydrant map: an account so we know who’s contributing, location and photo data so hydrants can actually be found, and basic visit records so we understand how the map is being used. We don’t sell your data. We don’t share it with advertisers. We use it to keep the map accurate and to keep South Africa’s fire response faster.
What we collect
When you create an account: To use the map, you need an account. We ask for your cell number, username, your reason for signing up (resident, first responder, service provider, and so on), and your general location. This isn’t bureaucracy for its own sake – it’s how we know who’s verifying what, and it lets us credit the community members doing the real work of mapping their areas.
When you submit a hydrant, enclosure, or issue report: We collect the GPS coordinates you drop or confirm, any photos you upload, and whatever details you add about the hydrant’s condition or type. This is the core of what makes FindMyHydrant useful – it’s also the only reason we ask for location permission at all.
When you use the map: We log when you open the map while signed in, so we can understand usage patterns and improve the platform. This is tied to your account, not your IP address – IP addresses aren’t reliable on mobile networks, so we don’t use them to identify you.
Cookies and local storage: We use a small device token (not a tracking cookie sold to third parties) so you don’t have to log in every single time you open the map. You can clear this at any time by logging out or clearing your browser data.
Email: We use your email to verify your account, send you sign-in alerts, and – if you’ve asked for them – approval notifications on reports you’ve submitted. We don’t add you to marketing lists without asking.
What we don't collect
We don’t collect payment card details directly – if you ever donate through the site, that goes through a registered payment processor, not through us. We don’t track you across other websites. We don’t build advertising profiles.
Who we share it with
We share the minimum necessary with the following, strictly to run the platform:
- Our hosting provider, to keep the site running.
- Our email delivery service, to send verification and notification emails.
- PayFast (once live) only if and when you make a donation — they handle the transaction directly; we never see or store your card details.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to anyone, for any reason.
Why we ask for location and photos
Fire hydrants are only useful if they can be found. A pin without GPS accuracy or a photo confirming its condition doesn’t help a firefighter standing in front of the wrong bush at 2am. We only use this data to build and maintain the map – it’s the whole point of the platform.
What we can't guarantee
FindMyHydrant is community-sourced. We verify what we can, and our field team checks reports where possible, but we can’t personally inspect every hydrant on the map. We ask that you treat this data as the best available community information, not a guarantee of hydrant condition.
Your rights under POPIA
You have the right to:
- Know what personal information we hold about you
- Access a copy of it
- Correct it if it’s wrong or outdated
- Request deletion of your account and associated personal information, subject to any legal or safety-record obligations we may have
- Object to certain uses of your information
- Withdraw consent at any time (though this may limit your ability to use parts of the platform, like submitting reports)
To exercise any of these, email us at info@findmyhydrant.co.za. We’ll respond within a reasonable time and won’t charge you for reasonable requests.
If you feel we haven’t handled your information properly, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with South Africa’s Information Regulator (inforegulator.org.za).
How long we keep information
We keep account and submission data for as long as your account is active, and for a reasonable period after that to preserve the integrity of the map’s history (for example, so an approved hydrant doesn’t silently disappear if an old account is deleted). If you want your data removed sooner, contact us and we’ll work through what’s possible.
Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect your information – including not storing passwords in plain text, and never emailing passwords back to you. No system is perfectly secure, but we treat your data with the same care we’d want for our own.
Children's privacy
FindMyHydrant isn’t designed for use by children, and we don’t knowingly collect information from anyone under 18 without appropriate consent.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle your information in a meaningful way, we’ll update this page and note the date at the top. We won’t quietly expand what we do with your data without telling you.
Contact us
FindMyHydrant NPC Reg. 2026/469709/08
info@findmyhydrant.co.za
