What to know
- ATSDR released a draft health consultation on Fort Ord drinking water (1985–1994) for public comment.
- ATSDR found no health risk for people using Fort Ord and MCWD well water in 1985–1994.
- You can join a virtual public meeting on July 29, 2026, to hear findings.
- You can submit public comments to ATSDR by August 22, 2026.
Media Alert
ATLANTA, GA – Today, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency, released its health consultation, Health Evaluation of Drinking Water at the Former Fort Ord Army Base from 1985 to 1994 for public comment. ATSDR assessed whether these exposures posed a health risk in the past.
Based on new analysis of historic data, ATSDR concluded that residents and soldiers-in-training who drank, showered, washed, and cooked with water from former Fort Ord and Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) drinking water wells from 1985 to 1994 were not at risk for health effects due to contaminant exposures.
ATSDR scientists will discuss the overall findings of the report with the community at a virtual public meeting.
July 29, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET
The public is invited to submit comments by August 22, 2026, to ATSDR's record center by email at: OCHHAPublicComment@cdc.gov
Or mail comments to:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Attn: Records Center
4770 Buford Highway NE, MS S106-5
Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Resources
- For more information about ATSDR's evaluation of contamination levels in the 1985-1994 Fort Ord drinking water, contact CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or www.cdc.gov/info or visit www.atsdr.cdc.gov.
- Since 2001, Marina Coast Water District has overseen water and wastewater systems for the Army and regularly tests drinking water quality. They report results in their annual consumer confidence report here https://www.mcwd.org/gsa_ccr.html.
- For members of the media: If you have questions, please fill out the request for comment form at this HHS link: https://www.hhs.gov/request-for-comment-form/index.html?Agency=CDC
ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, invests in everyone's health by evaluating the potential for adverse human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances in the environment.