fort detrick

DRINKING WATER

The Army is committed to ensuring quality drinking water is provided to its Soldiers, family members, and DoD civilian workforce. The Army and other purveyors (e.g. Privatized water system partners) perform proactive sampling on its drinking water systems for PFOS and/or PFOA IAW Army Policy.

On April 26, 2024, the EPA published a final federal National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) establishing drinking water standards for certain PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This rule applies to public drinking water systems and includes enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) to include 4 ppt for PFOS and 4 ppt for PFOA. The rule provides five years for regulated public water systems to comply. The Army continues to collect necessary sampling information and is taking actions to ensure compliance with the required 5-year timeframe. For the latest Drinking Water sampling results, please see the OSD PFAS On-base drinking water database https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/eer/ecc/pfas/data/onbase-drinking-water.html

Status: Army-provided drinking water complies with the standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act, a federal law designed to protect the quality of drinking water supplied to the American public. The Army will continue to sample and monitor on-installation drinking water to ensure the EPA lifetime health advisory levels or a properly promulgated state safe drinking water standard are not exceeded.

Type of drinking water systems: Army-owned

For questions contact: Public Affairs

Office phone number: (301) 619-3324

Office e-mail address: lanessa.n.hill.civ@army.mil

Water Quality Reports

CLEANUP ACTIONS

The Army uses CERCLA (Superfund) to investigate PFAS releases and lead comprehensive restoration efforts in coordination with federal and state regulatory agencies. We follow a science-based, phased process to protect public health and the environment.

For private drinking water wells, Department of Defense policy (updated in September 2024) calls for proactive interim actions when PFOS or PFOA levels meet or exceed 12 ppt, which is three times EPA’s current enforceable standard of 4 ppt. These actions are taken during the five-year monitoring and compliance phase (ending in 2029, with possible extension to 2031) before formal enforcement begins. When wells exceed this threshold, the Army takes prompt action—such as supplying bottled water, installing filtration systems, or connecting homes to municipal water.

PFAS concentrations between 4 ppt and 12 ppt in private wells (or lower for certain other PFAS compounds) are addressed through the full CERCLA process, with final cleanup goals set at EPA’s MCL levels or at background PFAS levels—whichever is higher.

Cleanup can take years. As actions progress, this page will be updated with the latest reports, progress summaries, site-specific contacts, and links to detailed information.

CERCLA INFORMATION

Current CERCLA Phase: Remedial Investigation underway

DOCUMENTS

Final Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Fort Detrick, Maryland (October 2022)
Appendices available upon request

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information, contact: Public Affairs

Office phone number: (301) 619-3324

Office e-mail address: lanessa.n.hill.civ@army.mil

Last reviewed/updated: 8/18/2025