A State Water Resources Control Board training video produced with Summit Partners explains how entities enrolled under the Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (2022-0103) must designate a legally responsible official, or LRO, and how that person must register in the CWIX system.

The video, read by two unnamed presenters, says the Division of Water Quality requires enrollees to appoint an LRO who has managerial authority over the enrollee’s entire sanitary sewer system and the power to make major capital-improvement recommendations to ensure long-term environmental compliance. "Section 5.9 of the general order states that the legally responsible official shall electronically certify on the enrollee's behalf all applications, reports, the sewer system management plans and corresponding updates, and other information submitted electronically into the online CWIX Sanitary Sewer System database under perjury," one presenter states.

Why it matters: the LRO’s electronic certifications cover spill reports, monthly and annual reports, and sewer system management plans; inaccurate or missing certifications can affect an enrollee’s compliance record under the general order.

The video walks through practical steps. All LROs must create a CWIX user account: from the CWIX home page, select the user registration button, choose "I am the legally responsible person for my facility or location," select sanitary sewer overflows as the discharger type, and enter the facility WDID. Registrants must create a username and PIN and print the electronic submittal authorization form, which must be signed and mailed to the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, Care of DMR Processing Center/CWIX Registration, PO Box 100, Sacramento, CA 95812-1000. The CWIX help center will complete the application after receiving the mailed form.

New applicants must delegate a duly authorized representative at least 60 days before assuming operation and maintenance responsibilities for a sanitary sewer system. If an enrollee’s current LRO does not meet the order requirements described in section 5.1, the enrollee must designate a new LRO. LROs responsible for multiple systems must add each system to their CWIX account via "view/change my personal information" and "request additional facility," validating the WDID and selecting the organization and facility represented.

The presenters emphasize that the LRO bears responsibility for correct designation. State Water Resources Control Board staff "may clarify any questions regarding order requirements" but will not recommend a specific person to serve as an LRO, the video notes. For further questions the presenters provide an email contact for State Water Resources Control Board staff (sanitarysewer@waterboards.ca.gov) and point viewers to the General Order Compliance Tools tab on the State Water Resources Control Board website for additional training videos.

The video closes with credits naming Summit Partners, Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, Central Valley Clean Water Association, Clean Water SoCal, California Water Environment Association, and Ridgecresta Learning and Development Services.