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Environmental Water Service Limited GDPR Compliance Statement

Introduction

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) came into force across the European Union on 25th May 2018 and brought with it the most significant changes to data protection law in two decades. Based on privacy by design and taking a risk–based approach, the GDPR has been designed to meet the requirements of the digital age.

The 21st Century brings with it a broader use of technology, new definitions of what constitutes personal data, and a vast increase in cross-border processing.

The new regulation aims to standardise data protection laws and processing across the EU; affordingindividuals stronger, more consistent rights to access and control their personal information.

Our Commitment

Environmental Water Services Limited (to be known as EWS Ltd for the remainder of this statement) are committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process, and to provide a compliant and consistent approach to data protection. We have always had a robust and effective data protection programme in place which abides by the data protection principles.

However, we recognise our obligations in updating and expanding this programme to meet the demands of the GDPR and the UK’s Data Protection Bill.

EWS Ltd are dedicated to safeguarding the personal information under our remit and in developing a data protection regime that is effective, fit for purpose and demonstrates an understanding of, and appreciation for the new Regulation.

Our preparation and objectives for GDPR compliance have been summarised in this statement and include the development and implementation of new data protection roles, policies, procedures, controls and measures to ensure maximum and ongoing compliance.

How We Have Complied With the GDPR

Information audit – carrying out a company wide information audit to identify and assess what personal information we hold, where it comes from, how and why it is processed and if and to whom it is disclosed.

Policies & Procedures – revising and implementing new data protection policies and procedures to meet the requirements and standards of the GDPR and any relevant data protection laws, including;-

Data Breaches – we ensure that we have safeguards and measures in place to identify, assess, investigate and report any personal data breach at the earliest possible time.

Our procedures are robust and have been disseminated to all employees, making them aware of the reporting lines and steps to follow.

Subject Access Request (SAR) – we accommodate the revised 30 day timeframe for providing the requested information and for making this provision free of charge.

Our new procedures detail how to verify the data subject, what steps to take for processing an access request and what exemptions apply to ensure that communications with data subjects are compliant, consistent and adequate.

Privacy Notice/Policy – it is our aim to ensure that all individuals whose personal information we process have been informed of why we need it, how it is used, what their rights are, who the information is disclosed to and what safeguarding measures are in place to protect their information.

Obtaining Consent – we have revised our consent mechanisms for obtaining personal data, ensuring that individuals understand what they are providing, why and how we use it and giving clear, defined ways to consent to us processing their information.

Data Subject Rights

In addition to the policies and procedures mentioned above that ensure individuals can enforce their data protection rights, we provide easy to access information, via the office, of an individual’s right to access any personal information that EWS Ltd processes about them and to request information about:-

  • What personal data we hold about them
  • The purposes of the processing
  • The categories of personal data concerned
  • The recipients to whom the personal data has/will be disclosed
  • How long we intend to store your personal data for
  • If we did not collect the data directly from them, information about the source
  • The right to have incomplete or inaccurate data about them corrected or completed and the process for requesting this
  • The right to request erasure of personal data (where applicable) or to restrict processing in accordance with data protection laws, as well as to object to any direct marketing from us and to be informed about any automated decision-making that we use
  • The right to lodge a complaint or seek judicial remedy and who to contact in such instances.

Information Security & Technical and Organisational Measures

EWS Ltd takes the privacy and security of individuals and their personal information very seriously and take every reasonable measure and precaution to protect and secure the personal data that we process. We have robust information security policies and procedures in place to protect personal information from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or destruction and have several layers of security measures, including:-
Access controls, password policy, encryptions and authentications.