Legal

Terms of Service

These terms govern your use of the SootDive website, including our irrigation guides, planner tool, downloadable resources, and newsletter. Please read them carefully before using our services.

Last Updated: January 15, 2026

1 Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using the SootDive website located at sootdive.com (referred to as "the Site," "our Site," or "the Website"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (referred to as "Terms," "these Terms," or "this Agreement"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you (referred to as "you," "your," or "the User") and SootDive LLC (referred to as "SootDive," "we," "us," or "our").

If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Site. Your continued use of the Site following any modifications to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

You must be at least 18 years of age, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater, to use this Site. By using the Site, you represent and warrant that you meet this minimum age requirement. If you are using the Site on behalf of a business, organization, or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and references to "you" in these Terms include both you as an individual and the entity you represent.

These Terms were last updated on January 15, 2026. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed about any changes.

2 Description of Services

SootDive provides educational content and tools related to sustainable irrigation techniques and water management practices for small-scale farms. Our services include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Written Guides and Articles: In-depth educational content covering drip irrigation, sprinkler system selection, rainwater harvesting, soil moisture monitoring, crop-based scheduling, drought-resistant farming practices, maintenance routines, and regional adaptation strategies.
  • Interactive Irrigation Planner Tool: A web-based calculator that generates customized irrigation recommendations based on user-supplied data such as farm size, crop type, soil type, and climate zone. Results are estimates based on published agricultural data and should be validated with on-farm observations.
  • Downloadable Resources: Printable water usage calendars, maintenance checklists, and scheduling templates available for personal and farm use at no cost.
  • Newsletter: A monthly email publication containing seasonal irrigation tips, new content announcements, and practical water management advice.

All content on SootDive is provided for general educational and informational purposes. We strive to present accurate, up-to-date information drawn from reputable agricultural extension services, peer-reviewed research, and practical farming experience. However, our content does not constitute professional agricultural consulting, engineering advice, or legal guidance regarding water rights and regulations.

We reserve the right to modify, update, suspend, or discontinue any part of our services at any time without prior notice. We are not obligated to maintain or update any specific content or feature on the Site.

3 User Obligations

When using the SootDive website, you agree to the following obligations and restrictions:

Lawful Use: You will use the Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation. You will not use the Site in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair our servers or interfere with any other party's use of the Site.

Accurate Information: When submitting information through any form on the Site, including the newsletter signup, contact forms, or the irrigation planner tool, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. You must not impersonate any other person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.

Prohibited Activities: You must not engage in any of the following activities:

  • Scraping, crawling, or using automated tools to extract data from the Site without our prior written consent
  • Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site, other user accounts, computer systems, or networks connected to the Site
  • Introducing viruses, malware, or any other harmful code to the Site
  • Reproducing, duplicating, copying, selling, reselling, or exploiting any portion of the Site for commercial purposes without our express written permission
  • Using the Site to distribute unsolicited advertising, spam, or promotional materials
  • Framing, mirroring, or otherwise incorporating any part of the Site into any other website without our authorization

Responsibility for Decisions: You acknowledge that any agricultural, financial, or operational decisions you make based on content from SootDive are made at your own risk and discretion. You are solely responsible for verifying that any irrigation techniques, system designs, or water management practices comply with your local regulations and are appropriate for your specific conditions.

4 Intellectual Property

All content on the SootDive website, including but not limited to text, articles, guides, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, software, and the design and arrangement of the Site (collectively, "Content"), is the property of SootDive LLC or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

The SootDive name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of SootDive LLC. You must not use these marks without our prior written permission.

Limited License: We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Site and its Content for your personal, non-commercial use. This license specifically permits you to:

  • View and read articles and guides on the Site
  • Use the interactive irrigation planner tool for personal or farm planning purposes
  • Download and print resources (such as the water usage calendar) for personal or on-farm use
  • Share links to SootDive pages, provided you do not alter the content or misrepresent its source

This license does not include the right to reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download (other than page caching or specifically offered downloads), store, or transmit any Content for commercial purposes. You must not modify copies of any materials from the Site or delete or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices from copies of materials from the Site.

If you print, copy, modify, download, or otherwise use or provide any other person with access to any part of the Site in breach of these Terms, your right to use the Site will cease immediately and you must, at our option, return or destroy any copies of the materials you have made.

5 Disclaimers

Please read this section carefully as it limits our liability to you.

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT, TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND SERVICES PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SOOTDIVE LLC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

No Professional Advice: The content provided on SootDive is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional agricultural consulting, engineering advice, or legal counsel. Irrigation system design, installation, and operation involve variables unique to each farm, including soil composition, water source quality, local climate micropatterns, topography, and crop cultivar specifics that cannot be fully addressed through general online resources.

Water Regulations: Water rights, rainwater harvesting laws, well permits, and irrigation restrictions differ significantly by state, county, and municipality across the United States and internationally. SootDive does not provide legal advice regarding water regulations. You are responsible for researching and complying with all applicable water use regulations in your jurisdiction before implementing any irrigation strategy described on our Site.

Planner Tool Accuracy: The Interactive Irrigation Planner tool generates estimates based on published crop water requirement coefficients and regional evapotranspiration averages. These calculations represent general baselines and may not accurately reflect the conditions on your specific farm. Variables such as planting density, mulch coverage, windbreak presence, irrigation system age, and water pressure can significantly affect actual water needs. We recommend using the planner output as a starting reference and validating results with on-farm soil moisture measurements.

System Safety: Installation of irrigation systems may involve electrical wiring (for pumps, timers, and controllers), pressurized water lines, trenching and excavation, and connection to municipal or well water supplies. SootDive does not assume responsibility for any injury, property damage, or system failure resulting from irrigation work performed based on information found on this Site. Consult licensed professionals for electrical work, backflow prevention device installation, and well pump servicing.

We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free, or that defects will be corrected. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content obtained through the Site.

6 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL SOOTDIVE LLC, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AFFILIATES, SUCCESSORS, OR ASSIGNS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

  • (a) Your access to, use of, or inability to access or use the Site or any content on the Site
  • (b) Any conduct or content of any third party on the Site
  • (c) Any content obtained from the Site, including but not limited to irrigation recommendations, planner tool results, scheduling guides, and downloadable resources
  • (d) Crop loss, property damage, personal injury, or system failure arising from the implementation of any technique, system, or practice described on the Site
  • (e) Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or data

IN NO EVENT SHALL SOOTDIVE LLC'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE OR ITS CONTENT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($100.00 USD).

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If these laws apply to you, some or all of the above exclusions or limitations may not apply, and you may have additional rights. In such cases, our liability will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

7 Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless SootDive LLC, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, and assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney's fees) arising from:

  • (a) Your use of and access to the Site, including any data or content transmitted or received by you
  • (b) Your violation of any provision of these Terms, including without limitation your breach of any representation or warranty contained herein
  • (c) Your violation of any third-party right, including without limitation any intellectual property right, publicity right, confidentiality right, or privacy right
  • (d) Any claim that your actions caused damage to a third party

This indemnification obligation will survive the termination of these Terms and your use of the Site. SootDive LLC reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and in such case, you agree to cooperate with our defense of such claim.

8 Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services that are not owned or controlled by SootDive LLC. These links may include references to agricultural extension services, government water resource agencies, equipment manufacturers, research institutions, and other organizations we believe may be useful to our readers.

SootDive LLC has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, practices, or availability of any third-party websites or resources. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, approval, or sponsorship by SootDive LLC of the linked site or any association with its operators.

You acknowledge and agree that SootDive LLC is not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services available on or through any third-party websites or resources. We strongly recommend that you read the terms of service and privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

9 Privacy

Your use of the Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and share your personal data when you visit the Site, use our tools, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us. Please review our Privacy Policy carefully to understand our practices.

By using the Site, you consent to the collection and use of your data as described in the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our data practices, please do not use the Site or provide us with any personal information.

We are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws. You may exercise your data rights, including the right to access, rectify, erase, or port your data, by contacting us using the information provided in Section 14 of these Terms.

10 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

You agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or related to these Terms or your use of the Site shall be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in New York County, New York. You consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts and waive any objection to such jurisdiction or venue on the grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise.

If you are accessing the Site from a location outside the United States, you are responsible for compliance with all applicable local laws. Nothing in these Terms shall deprive you of the protection afforded to consumers by mandatory rules of law of the country in which you reside.

11 Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution: Before initiating any formal legal proceedings, you agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Site through informal negotiation. You may initiate this process by sending a written notice describing the nature of the dispute and your desired resolution to our contact address listed in Section 14. We will attempt to reach a mutually acceptable resolution within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving your notice.

Binding Arbitration: If the dispute is not resolved through informal negotiation within the thirty-day period, either party may elect to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in accordance with its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will be conducted in New York, New York, unless both parties agree to a different location or to virtual proceedings. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver: You agree that any arbitration or court proceeding shall be conducted on an individual basis and not as a class action, class arbitration, or representative proceeding. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration against SootDive LLC.

Exceptions: Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for matters relating to intellectual property rights, data security, or unauthorized access to the Site.

12 Termination

SootDive LLC reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or terminate your access to the Site, in whole or in part, at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice, and without liability to you. Reasons for termination may include, but are not limited to:

  • Violation of any provision of these Terms
  • Conduct that we determine, in our sole discretion, to be harmful to other users, third parties, or the business interests of SootDive LLC
  • Engagement in any form of automated data collection or scraping without authorization
  • Requests by law enforcement or government agencies

Upon termination of your access to the Site, your right to use the Site will immediately cease. All provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnification obligations, and limitations of liability.

You may discontinue your use of the Site at any time. If you have subscribed to our newsletter, you may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link included in each email or by contacting us directly.

13 Changes to These Terms

SootDive LLC reserves the right to revise and update these Terms of Service at any time at our sole discretion. We will provide notice of material changes through one or more of the following methods:

  • Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
  • Posting a prominent notice on our homepage for a minimum of fourteen (14) days
  • Sending a notification via email to newsletter subscribers, where we have your email address on file

Material changes to these Terms will take effect no sooner than fourteen (14) calendar days after the notice is posted, unless circumstances require an earlier effective date (for example, changes required by law or to address security concerns). Non-material changes, such as corrections of typographical errors or formatting adjustments, may take effect immediately upon posting.

Your continued use of the Site following the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Site. We recommend reviewing this page periodically for any changes.

14 Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about these Terms of Service, or if you wish to report a violation of these Terms, please contact us using any of the following methods:

Legal Entity

SootDive LLC

Registered Address

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4820
New York, NY 10118
United States

We aim to respond to all inquiries within five (5) business days. For matters that require urgent attention, such as security concerns or potential data breaches, please include "URGENT" in your email subject line and we will prioritize your request.

+ Additional General Provisions

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. The invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it is valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and SootDive LLC regarding your use of the Site. These Terms supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, regarding the Site.

Waiver: No waiver of any term or condition of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition. Any failure by SootDive LLC to assert a right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Assignment: You may not assign or transfer these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. Any attempt to assign or transfer these Terms without such consent will be null and void. SootDive LLC may freely assign or transfer these Terms without restriction. Subject to the foregoing, these Terms will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties, their successors, and permitted assigns.

Force Majeure: SootDive LLC shall not be liable for any failure to perform its obligations under these Terms where such failure results from any cause beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, war, civil disturbance, power outages, internet service provider failures, or other force majeure events.