Rowan tested its water for lead, and the results are murky

Lead-contamination tests at Rowan University's main campus in Glassboro have returned widely varying results, leaving administrators to focus on short-term fixes, including more water filters and continuing to hand out bottled water, as they further analyze the data.

All water samples released Tuesday by the university showed some amount of lead, but many did not approach the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "action level" of 15 parts per billion. Others far exceeded that standard, with hundreds or even thousands of parts per billion.

In many cases, water sources were tested more than once and the numbers varied greatly, often lower in the second round of testing but sometimes higher.

"We don't know," Rowan spokesman Joe Cardona said when asked about the fluctuating numbers. "We really need to look at that and ask why, so now it becomes the harder part of drilling down, building by building, on, what's the source of the lead?"

A first sample from the water main at Campbell Library tested at 1,020 parts per billion, 68 times the federal standard. A second sample tested at 8.9 parts per billion, below the standard.

After that main was cleaned, two samples came back above the federal standard, but with very different results: 1,490 and 19.8 parts per billion.

That kind of fluctuation runs through more than 1,800 campus test results released Tuesday.

Rowan's announcement named nine residential buildings with samples above the federal recommendation: Chestnut Hall, Edgewood Park Apartments, Evergreen Hall, Magnolia Hall, Mimosa Hall, Mullica Hall, Triad Hall, Townhouse Complex, and Willow Hall.

A sink in Chestnut Hall dropped from 48.6 to 2 parts per billion on a second test; a water fountain at Esbjornson Gym fell from 58.9 to 0.58 parts per billion; and a coffee pot at Holly Pointe Commons went from 550 to 39.7 parts per billion. A smoothie machine in the student center tested at 2,450 parts per billion, then at 7.6.

Outlets that tested above the federal standard have been disconnected or their water designated for hand washing only. Filters will be installed in residential buildings over spring break next week, and more filtered water fountains will be added across campus.

The university will also create an educational campaign about lead in drinking water.

University trustees in December set aside $2 million to respond to the lead findings, and about $250,000 has been spent since September, Cardona said, when the university first found lead contamination in its water.

The problem surfaced in July, after reports of discolored water in Linden Hall. Tests there showed elevated iron and lead levels, and the university tested water in nearby buildings that receive water from the same source.

Further testing found more lead in water across campus, and a comprehensive survey of every water outlet was ordered.

Cardona said Rowan was developing a testing plan, which colleges in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are not required to have, and will, after further analysis of the results released Tuesday, work to determine the causes of the problem and how to solve it.

That will include more testing, Cardona said.

"The takeaway is, we are trying to show we're being responsible and sharing everything so people are right next to us," he said. "This is a Rowan problem, but it's a widespread problem. We see it in Cherry Hill, we see it in all the different school districts. All we can do is try to manage it … and keep everybody up to speed."