State Water Resources Control Board outlines Sewix registration for legally responsible officials

A State Water Resources Control Board training video explains how legally responsible officials (LROs) for sanitary sewer systems must register, add facilities and deactivate accounts in the Sewix online portal to comply with General Order 2022-0103.

The video, presented as a step-by-step walkthrough, emphasizes that Section 5.9 of the general order requires an LRO to "electronically certify" applications, reports and sewer system management plans submitted into Sewix "under penalty of perjury." That certification duty underscores why agencies must ensure the person designated has appropriate authority and qualifications.

According to the instructions, an LRO must have management responsibility for the entire sanitary sewer system and the authority to make managerial decisions, including major capital-improvement recommendations to ensure long-term environmental compliance. The presenter also says the LRO should have relevant education, certification or professional training or direct authority over staff who do.

To create a Sewix account the video directs users to the Sewix homepage and to click the user registration button. Registrants must select the statement, "I am the legally responsible person for my facility or location," and complete all required fields (marked with a red asterisk). The presenter walks through selecting the discharger type ("sanitary sewer system overflows"), entering and validating the system WDID, choosing the organization and facility being represented, and entering title and full name.

The video instructs users to provide a mailing address and an email, choose a user ID, and create an account PIN for recovery. Registrants must also select five security questions and provide unique answers; the presenter recommends storing credentials using a secure method.

After completing the online form the presenter notes the Sewix account is created but not active. Users must print, sign and mail the electronic submittal authorization form to the State Water Resources Control Board address listed on the form; once processed, the LRO will receive an email with a temporary password.

An LRO who oversees multiple systems must complete a registration form for each system. To add facilities to an existing LRO account, log into the approved account, navigate to "view/change my personal information," click "request additional facility," select the discharger type, enter and validate the facility WDID, and print, sign and mail the authorization form for each added facility.

To deactivate an LRO who has changed jobs or retired, the video instructs agencies to notify the Sewix help center by email and provide the names of the former LROs and their dates of separation if known. For questions the presenter points viewers to the State Water Resources Control Board sanitary sewer contact and to additional training videos on the Board's website.

The video credits partner groups involved in its production and lists additional compliance resources on the State Water Resources Control Board website. The training focuses on procedural compliance steps rather than policy interpretation; agencies requiring further legal or policy advice were directed to contact Board staff.