Summary: Our platforms use only essential, functional cookies and local storage required for the services to work. We do not use any analytics, advertising, or third-party tracking cookies. No cookie consent banner is required because we only use strictly necessary cookies.
Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser when you visit a website. Local storage and session storage are similar browser technologies that allow websites to store data locally on your device. These technologies help websites function correctly, remember your preferences, and provide a better user experience.
Hydroscape-Group takes a privacy-first approach. We have deliberately designed our platforms to avoid the use of non-essential cookies. We do not use:
Because we only use strictly necessary cookies, we are not required to display a cookie consent banner under the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) or the UK GDPR.
The following table lists all cookies and browser storage used across our platforms. All are classified as strictly necessary for the services to function.
| Name / Type | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service worker cache | Caches app files for offline access and faster loading. No personal data stored. | Until cache is cleared or updated | Strictly necessary |
| Local storage (form queue) | Stores unsent sighting reports when offline. Data is submitted and cleared when connectivity returns. | Until sync completes | Strictly necessary |
| Name / Type | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebase Auth session token | Authenticates the admin or client user. Managed by Firebase Authentication SDK. Contains no personal data — only a cryptographic token. | 1 hour (auto-refreshed while active) | Strictly necessary |
| Session storage (portal context) | Stores client portal routing state (e.g. which tool to display). Cleared when the browser tab closes. | Browser session only | Strictly necessary |
| Service worker cache | Caches app files for faster loading. | Until cache is cleared or updated | Strictly necessary |
| Name / Type | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firebase Auth session token | Authenticates the user for project access and real-time sync. | 1 hour (auto-refreshed while active) | Strictly necessary |
| Service worker cache | Caches PWA shell for offline access. Essential for use on sites with poor mobile signal. | Until cache is cleared or updated | Strictly necessary |
| Local storage (UI state) | Stores map preferences, last viewed project, and UI settings. | Persistent until cleared | Strictly necessary |
| Name / Type | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | The pricing portal is a static HTML page. It sets no cookies and uses no local storage. | — | — |
When you use our authenticated platforms (Admin Hub or HydroTasks), Firebase Authentication may set cookies on Google-owned domains (e.g. firebaseapp.com) to manage your session securely. These are first-party authentication cookies essential for the login process to function and are not used for tracking.
If you make a payment via Stripe (contractor subscriptions), Stripe may set its own cookies on the Stripe checkout page. These are governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy and are used solely for fraud prevention and payment processing.
No other third-party services used by our platforms (Brevo, Slack, Google Maps, Gemini AI) set cookies in your browser. These services are called server-side from our Cloud Functions and have no client-side presence.
Since we only use strictly necessary cookies, disabling them may prevent our platforms from functioning correctly. However, you can manage cookies through your browser settings:
You can also clear local storage and service worker caches through your browser's developer tools (usually F12 → Application tab).
If we introduce any new cookies or storage mechanisms, we will update this policy and the "Last Updated" date above. If we ever introduce non-essential cookies (which we have no plans to do), we will implement a consent mechanism before setting them.
If you have questions about our use of cookies, contact us at:
Hydroscape-Group Ltd
Two Hoots, Stamford, United Kingdom
Email: info@hydroscape-group.co.uk
See also: Privacy Policy