♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

>> THE ESTIMATE IT WILL BE 5 MILLION DOLLARS PER BRIDGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> IS FIVE LIVES -- IS FIVE LIVES NOT WORTH 5 MILLION, BECAUSE FIVE PEOPLE HAVE DIED THIS YEAR ALONE ON RHODE ISLAND BRIDGES.

FIVE PEOPLE.

>> IT IS OUR RIVER OF LIFE IN THIS AREA.

>> BECAUSE OF INDUSTRIALIZATION, THAT WAS THE ONLY DUMPING GROUND THEY HAD.

SO A POISONED THE BIRTHPLACE OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

>> TODAY IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED THAT YOU SWIM OR EAT THE FISH YOU CATCH IN THE BLACKSTONE RIVER, BUT FOR RESEARCHERS, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

>> IS NOT AS THE EPA CALLED IT AT THE TIME, ONE OF THE MOST TOXIC OR POLLUTED RIVERS.

I WOULD SAVIOR GETTING THERE -- I WOULD SAY, WE ARE GETTING THERE.

♪ HOST: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I AM, WHAT'S.

>> AND I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

EACH DAY THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS PASS OF-HOUR PERIOD BRIDGES, NEWPORT AND OTHERS.

>> FOR MOST THEY ARE JUST A HOPE OF GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

FOR SOME PEOPLE AND THEIR LOVED ONES, THEY ARE A SITE OF NO RETURN AND PAIN.

WHEN YOU LOOK OVER AT THE BRIDGE RIGHT NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH DARK MOMENTS AS I WAS THAT NIGHT.

>> THAT NIGHT IN JUNE 2015, MARK JUMPED FROM THE PEAK OF THE NEWPORT BRIDGE, PLUNGING INTO NARRAGANSETT BAY.

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING?

>> EVERYTHING BUT THE IMPACT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PAIN GOING THROUGH MY HEART.

THAT NIGHT I HAD GOTTEN SOME MORE BAD NEWS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT WHICH KIND OF JUST TOPPED EVERYTHING OFF THAT I WAS ALREADY GOING THROUGH.

I WAITED FOR MY GIRLFRIEND TO GO TO SLEEP.

I TOOK THE KEYS, EMPTIED EVERYTHING OUT OF MY POCKETS, GOT IN THEN TRIED TO MAKE A FEW PHONE CALLS.

AFTER THAT, I JUST PRESSED THE GAS AND BROKE ABOUT 100 MILES PER HOUR.

GOT TO THE TOP AND SWUNG THE DOOR OPEN AND, IT WAS EASY TO JUMP ON TOP OF THE RAILING.

THE RAILING IS LESS THAN 48 INCHES.

>> SO YOU WENT THERE KNOWING THAT IT WAS LOW ENOUGH FOR YOU TO GET ACCESS TO THE EDGE?

YOU ARE A MIRACLE.

YOU JUMPED AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.

HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> EVERY DETAIL OF HOW IT WENT WAS A MIRACLE.

FROM HOW I HIT THE WATER FEETFIRST, THE DISCS IN MY BACK DOWN MY SPINE BURST OUT AS EVERYTHING IS PUSHED DOWN.

RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL BEING THE ONLY HOSPITAL, KNOWING IT HAS THE ONLY MACHINE THAT COULD HAVE SAVED ME AT THAT TIME.

>> HE WAS ALSO LUCKY, BECAUSE TWO BOATERS HAPPENED TO BE NEARBY WHEN HE JUMPED, AND FISHED HIM OUT OF THE WATERS.

DO YOU THINK YOU WERE SAVED FOR A PURPOSE?

>> I DEFINITELY DO.

>> THAT PURPOSE BROUGHT HIM TO THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF BILL 7383, CALLING FOR A DESIGN STUDY OF SUICIDE BARRIERS AND SAFETY NETS ON ALL FOUR OF RHODE ISLAND'S MAJOR BRIDGES.

>> I AM A SUICIDE SURVIVOR BY WAY OF NEWPORT BRIDGE.

I HAD NO WEAPON THAT I THOUGHT COULD DO THE JOB, I HAD NO PILLS TO OVERDOSE ON, I HAD A CAR TO GET INTO AND LESS THAN A QUARTERMILE TO DRIVE TO THE TOP OF NEWPORT BRIDGE.

AND BECAUSE THE RAILING IS SO LOW, THAT IS WHY I CHOSE THE NEWPORT BRIDGE.

IN RHODE ISLAND, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY PUT INTO REPAIRING POTHOLES SO THAT WE DON'T DAMAGE OUR CARS, BUT I AM HERE TO ASK THAT WE PUT SOME MONEY INTO THESE BRIDGES SO THAT WE DON'T DAMAGE ANYMORE LIVES.

>> MELISSA ALSO TESTIFIED AT THE HEARING.

SHE WITNESSED A MAN'S FATAL JUMP FROM THE MOUNT HOPE BRIDGE AS SHE WAS DRIVING BY.

>> THAT WAS A MOMENT THAT I WILL SEE HIS FACE FOREVER.

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT IS SO REAL TO ME.

IT MATTERS THAT I DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

MICHELLE: WHAT SHE DID WAS BECOME COFOUNDER OF "REACHING THE GAP FOR SAFETY AND HEALING."

THE GROUP'S ADVOCACY HELPED PASS THE HILL PROVIDING MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AT FOR A BARRIER ENGINEERING STUDY.

BUT SHE SAYS IT WAS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

>> WE ARE ADVOCATING TO PUT UP TEMPORARY BARRIERS WHERE THEY COMPLETE THE STUDY AND BEFORE THE PERMANENT BARRIERS GO UP.

WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING UP BECAUSE THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE LONGER PEOPLE CONTINUE TO JUMP.

THE CURRENT STUDY WILL PROBABLY BE COMPLETED SOMEWHERE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2024.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT 18 MONTHS OR SO, AND AT AN AWFUL LONG TIME TO KEEP OUR BRIDGES SAFE.

FROM NOVEMBER 2022 NOVEMBER 2021, WE HAD 13 CHUMPS FROM OUR FOUR BRIDGES.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT IS THAT IT IMPACTS FAMILIES, IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY AND THE COWORKERS, IT IMPACTS OTHER CHILDREN GROWING UP.

PAMELA: GONZALEZ BELIEVES THE IMPACT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.

>> MOST OF THE TIME IT IS DONE THROUGH IMPULSE.

IT IS AN IMPULSIVE THING.

IF THERE ARE BARRIERS, IT WILL BE JUST WHAT IT SAYS THE WORD IS, "BARRIER."

THE FEW MINUTES THAT THEY STEP BACK, THEY MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A PHONE CALL OF SUPPORT.

THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD JUST A SECOND THOUGHT.

PAMELA: WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PUT A BARRIER BETWEEN PEOPLE AND SUICIDE?

>> THE MAIN THING IS DECREASING THE STIGMA BEHIND MENTAL HEALTH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT IT.

NEED HELP ARE AFRAID TO REACH OUT BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TODAY ABOUT A HEALTH EPIDEMIC THAT IS CLAIMING THE LIVES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS EACH YEAR.

THE EPIDEMIC OF SUICIDE.

PAMELA: IT WAS RHODE ISLAND SENATE OR JACK REED WHO SPONSORED NEW LEGISLATION CREATING THE NATIONAL 988 SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE.

THE SIMPLE THREE DIGIT NUMBER CONNECTS CALLERS INCREASES TO LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, 24-7.

>> THIS IS MATT SPEAKING, HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

PAMELA: THE 988 NUMBER WENT LIVE IN JULY.

>> THE IDEA THAT WE ARE CHANGING A NUMBER FROM A ONE 800 NUMBER TO 988, MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO MEMORIZE AND MUCH EASIER TO GET HELP.

PAMELA: HE IS THE CODIRECTOR OF RHODE ISLAND'S HUB FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

HE SAYS THE NEW THREE DIGIT NUMBER WORKS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THE SAME WAY 911 IS THERE IN GENERAL EMERGENCIES.

DO YOU SEE ANY PARALLELS BETWEEN THE PUSH FOR BARRIERS IN OUR STATE BRIDGES AND 988?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE IDEA OF THE 988 CALL LINE BEING A BARRIER IS IT GIVES THE PERSON IN CRISIS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP BACK FOR EVEN A MOMENT AND REALLY CONTEMPLATE THE IMPACT OF WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS REALLY MEAN AND WHAT EXECUTING THOSE THOUGHTS MEANS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT OUR CALL CENTERS SPECIFICALLY IS THAT WE ARE PAIRED WITH A 24-7 WALK-IN TRIAGE CENTER.

OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO CRISES ON THE PHONE BUT ALSO TO INVITE PEOPLE TO SAY, COME AND GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED.

IF ANYONE IS LOOKING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT, A NURSE, HE RECOVERY SPECIALIST, THEY CAN COME AND RECEIVE AN ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL TO THE APPROPRIATE CARE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF EMERGENCY ROOMS AND SETTINGS.

WE ARE DIVERTING CALLS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE GOING TO 911.

ALSO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISPATCH MOBILE CRISES INTO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE CONSULTATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE COME IN YOUR HOME AND CHECK IN WITH YOU IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

PAMELA: YOU TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO REACH SOMEONE THE NIGHT THAT YOU WENT OFF THE BRIDGE.

DO YOU THINK 988 WOULD HAVE HELPED?

>> MAYBE.

IT IS A VOICE ON THE OTHER END.

THAT HAS A ROLODEX OF RESOURCES, SOMEBODY JUST TO LISTEN.

PAMELA: MEANTIME, ONCE THE DESIGN STUDY ON SAFETY FENCING FOR THE STATE'S BRIDGES IS COMPLETE, THERE MAY BE ANOTHER BARRIER -- COST.

THEY ESTIMATE IT WILL BE $5 MILLION PER BRIDGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS.

>> HOW MUCH IS A LIFE WORTH?

IS FIVE LIVES NOT WORTH $5 MILLION?

BECAUSE FIVE PEOPLE HAVE DIED THIS YEAR ALONE IN RHODE ISLAND ON RHODE ISLAND RIDGES.

FIVE PEOPLE.

PAMELA: DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THESE BARRIERS ARE GOING TO PREVENT SUICIDES?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT, THEY WILL.

IT IS TOO EASY TO JUMP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING IT.

THESE BRIDGES NEED CARRIERS.

BRIDGES THAT ARE BUILT NOW THEY GET BARRIERS.

BARRIERS PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DYING.

>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED ENOUGH PAIN IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY JUST WANT IT TO END.

THAT IS WHAT I WANTED.

THAT, TO ME, WAS SOLVING MY PROBLEMS.

PAMELA: NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BRIDGE, WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

>> LIKE I SUCCEEDED IN GETTING THROUGH TIMES IN MY LIFE THAT ARE MEANT TO BE.

NOW, I JUST HOPE THAT I CAN PREVENT SOMEONE ELSE FROM MAKING DECISIONS LIKE THAT AND JUST KEEP IT AS A BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE, INSTEAD OF USING IT FOR SOMETHING SO TRAGIC AND DARK.

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪ >> 50 YEARS AGO THIS EVENT WAS NAMED THE WOODSTOCK OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUPS.

THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS GATHERED TO CLEAN UP WHAT WAS THEN OE OF THE DIRTIEST RIVERS IN NORTH AMERICA, BLACKSTONE.

TONIGHT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE MONUMENTAL EFFORT.

RIVER WAS REFERRED TOFACTORIES OF MANT KINDS, STARTING WITH THE SLATER MAIL IN 1783 -- SLATER MILL IN 1793.

MY NAME IS IRENE.

I AM A RESIDENT OF NORTH SMITHFIELD, RHODE ISLAND.

I AND MY COLEADERS TOOK PART IN OPERATION 50 YEARS AGO.

>> MY NAME IS DAVE.

I AM 75 YEARS OLD NOW.

I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD MEMORY, BUT 50 YEARS BACK [LAUGHS] BECAUSE OF INDUSTRIALIZATION, THAT WAS THE ONLY DUMPING GROUND THEY HAD.

SO IT POISONED THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

>> THAT BLACKSTONE IS OUR RIVER OF LIFE IN THIS AREA.

IT MEANDERS PAST 30 COMMUNITIES FROM 51 MILES.

IT IS A BIG, BEAUTIFUL RIVER.

THAT THIS RIVER HAS PROBLEMS -- BUT THIS RIVER HAS PROBLEMS.

THE RIVER IS STREWN WITH DEBRIS.

THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TRUCKLOADS OF DEBRIS IN THE WETLANDS AND IN THE FLOODPLAINS ALL ALONG IT'S 51 MILES.

AND THE QUESTION ARISES AS TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

>> IT IS A DRAMATIC ONE-DAY EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE BLACKSTONE RIVER USING THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORKED ALONG ITS BANKS.

THIS IS ONLY A FIRST STEP AND A SPECTACULAR STEP.

WE ARE NOT KIDDING OURSELVES, WE KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM.

THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR, IN SOME CASES EVEN A 10 YEAR PROJECT BEFORE THE BLACKSTONE RIVER IS AGAIN THE KIND OF RIVER IT WAS 60, 70, 80 YEARS AGO.

WE HOPE THAT WE CAN DO IT AND WE ARE SURE GOING TO TRY.

ON BEHALF OF THE 85 MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION, WE ARE PLEASED TO PLEDGE OUR SUPPORT OF 250 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND 300 SKILLED OPERATORS.

>> THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.

EACH COMMUNITY WILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL DEBRIS IN ITS AREA.

OPERATION ZAP IS READY TO GO!

♪ >> BROADCASTING LIVE, WE ARE BROADCASTING FROM THE BANKS OF THE BLACKSTONE RIVER.

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME ON DOWN.

>> SO WE HAVE BEEN AS IGNED A KIND OF BACKWATER OFF THE MAIN RIVER TO WORK THERE ON CLEANING THE EDGES OF IT AND SO FORTH.

THEY WERE RATHER DARK AND FORBIDDING AND OILY, YOU KNOW?

THEY LOOKED GROSS.

[LAUGHS] AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS KIND OF PROTRUDING FROM THE, YOU KNOW?

IT WASN'T A PLACE THAT YOU COULD GO UNLESS HE HAD TO.

>> I THINK IT IS GOING REALLY WELL CONSIDERING WE HAVE MANY VOLUNTEERS AND THEY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

THERE IS A LOT LESS CONFUSION THAN I ANTICIPATED.

AT THIS POINT, I AM VERY HAPPY.

>> WE ARE ALL DOING A GOOD JOB, TRYING HARD ANYWAY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 15 GIRLS, THEIR CHILDREN WITH US.

IT'S A LITTLE EXHAUSTING, BUT WE JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> I WORKED THE LOT DOWN THAT WAY AND I HELPED PULL IT OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER.

WE PULLED THIS STRAIGHT, BIG, HUGE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS.

>> IT WAS A DOOR.

>> YEAH, A DOOR.

>> WOULD YOU GUYS RATHER BE OFF PLAYING BASEBALL TODAY OR WHAT?

>> I WOULD RATHER BE DOING THIS.

>> I WOULD RATHER BE DOING THIS.

>> THE GUY IN THE MIDDLE WAS ME 50 YEARS AGO.

>> I WAS BUSY RUNNING AROUND FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

I FINALLY WENT TO WHERE THEY WERE DUMPING ALL THE STUFF.

THERE WERE MILITARY MACHINES THERE MOVING THINGS AROUND, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TIRES MOVING AROUND THINGS FROM THE RIVER.

THERE WAS A HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD, UP AND DOWN THE RIVER TO CHECK WHAT WAS GOING ON.

.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME, ANYHOW.

I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS LIKE A LITTLE MINI INVASION.

>> THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING.

MORE THAN 10,000 VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP FOR WORK BRINGING RAKES.

STRETCHED OUT OVER 10 MILES OF RIVER BANKS.

THIS CONSTITUTED A VIRTUAL ARMY OF SCHOOLKIDS, HOUSEWIVES, ENGINEERS, TRUCK DRIVERS, FACTORY WORKERS, AND A MULTITUDE OF OTHERS, ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

>> THIS WAS THE TIME WHEN YOU HAD A LOT OF YOUR FOLK MUSIC AND SO FORTH THAT WAS LEADING YOU TO THINK OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

♪ [FOLK GUITAR PLAYING] >> THIS IS A HUGE DRAW.

HE WAS GIVING A CONCERT IN THE EVENING, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN DATA CLEANUP DURING THE DAY WERE INVITED DOWN TO THIS BIG FIELD WHERE THE AUTO PARK IS NOW.

AND THERE WAS A BIG FLATBED IN THERE.

BRING YOUR CHAIRS.

AND PETE SEEGER STOOD ON THAT FLAT BED AND JUST PLAYED AND SANG.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST WONDERFUL AND FOR AN EFFORT THAT WE HAD PUT IN TO MAKING THE WORLD A CLEANER, BETTER PLACE.

MICHELLE: AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THAT HISTORIC EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THE BLACKSTONE FIVE DECADES AGO, WE WONDERED WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE.

CONTRIBUTED REPORTER JOHN SMITH HAS THE UPDATE.

JOHN: AMAZINGLY, NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER PROJECT IZAP, THINGS GOT CONSIDERABLY WORSE.

IN 1990, THE EPA DESIGNATED THE BLACKSTONE AS THE MOST POLLUTED RIVER IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT UNLIKE THE VISIBLE DEBRIS OF THE PAST, THAT DISTINCTION CAME FROM THE UNSEEN POLLUTANTS.

>> THINGS WE ARE STILL WORKING ON TODAY ARE THE POLLUTANTS IN THE WATER THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE.

JOHN: JANE SAWYERS IS A SUPERVISING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT.

IT IS BACTERIA AND OTHER POLLUTANTS.

IT CAN EVEN BE SEDIMENT ITSELF.

JOHN: THE CONTAMINATION WAS NOT JUST FROM THE BLACKSTONE'S INDUSTRIAL PAST, THE RIVER WAS GETTING A FRESH SUPPLY OF SEWERAGE FROM POORLY REGULATED FACILITIES.

>> THAT WAS WHERE YOU PUT YOUR WAIST.

AND IT COULD BE THAT YOU KNEW WHAT THE FACTORY UPSTREAM WAS DOING BECAUSE THE COLOR OF THE WATER TODAY WAS THE COLOR.

SO THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE HEALTHY FOR THE FISH, NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT TO RECREATE IN.

JOHN: AT THE ONCE ACCURATE WASTEWATER PLANT, THOSE EFFORTS ARE EVIDENT.

HERE SEE WHICH IS TREATED THROUGH A PROCESS BEFORE AS MUCH A SEVEN WITHIN GALLONS GOES INTO THE BLACKSTONE EVERYDAY.

>> WE ISSUE PERMITS TO THE WASTEWATER FACILITIES.

WE CONTINUALLY WORKED ON THOSE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS WE HAVE MOVED THE PERMIT LIMITS DOWN AND THE TREATMENT PLANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE FOR POLLUTANTS FROM THE WATER BODY, THAT PERMITTING EFFORT HAS CONTINUED TO KEEP THE BLACKSTONE CLEAN, AND IT ALLOWS THE FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE TO THRIVE IN THE WATER.

INVESTIGATING THE DISCHARGE OF IMPERFECTLY TREATED WASTEWATER FROM THE TREATMENT FACILITY ON CUMBER HILL ROAD.

>> BUT THEY'RE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS ON THIS SITE.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, THE PLANT DECLINED TO COMMENT.

FOR JANE SAWYERS AND OTHERS HOWEVER, SEWAGE IS NOT THE ONLY SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> STORMWATER IS A BIG PROBLEM.

SIDEWALKS AND PARKING LOT WILL NOT HOLD THE WATER, THEY WILL MOVE EVERYTHING INTO THE WATER BODY.

IT WILL NOT INFILTRATE AND REMOVE THE POLLUTANTS.

JOHN: SHE SAYS ONE OF THE GREATEST ISSUES WITH STORM WATER COMES FROM OUR FRONT YARDS.

>> THE SAME NUTRIENTS THAT WE USED TO FERTILIZE OUR LAWNS THAT ARE IN PET WASTE AND HUMAN WASTE, THEY CAN FEED ALGAE AND AQUATIC PLANTS AND THEY CAN OVERGROW AND THAT IS NOT EASY TO RECREATE IN AND NOT EASY FOR AQUATIC LIFE TO LIVE IN WHEN IT DRIES OFF, IT CAN DROP THE OXYGEN LEVELS YOU COULD HAVE A FISH KILL AND A LOT OF AQUATIC LIFE NOT LIVING.

JOHN: TO ENSURE SPECIFIC WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ARE MET, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ADHERES TO A RIGOROUS SCHEDULE OF SAMPLE COLLECTION AND REPORTING.

>> WE TEST FOR BACTERIA, FOR METAL.

WE COMPARE IT TO OUR WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE WATERS ARE MEETING OUR GOALS AND REGULATIONS.

AND IF THEY ARE, THAT IS GREAT.

IF THEY ARE NOT, IF THEY HAVE SOME POLLUTION IN THEM, WE PUT THEM ON THE LIST THAT WE REPORT TO EPA AND TO THE PUBLIC.

JOHN: SAWYER SAYS THAT WHILE MANY CONTAMINANTS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST, TESTING HAS YIELDED SOME SUCCESSES.

>> SOME ISSUES THAT WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR DECADES, WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE OFF THE LIST.

.

THE DATA SHOWS WE ARE MEETING OUR GOALS FOR THE POLLUTANTS.

THAT IS VERY EXCITING NEWS.

JOHN: OVER THE PAST TWO TESTING CYCLES, POLLUTANTS SUCH AS PHOSPHORUS, DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND DISSOLVED LEAD HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE EPA'S LIST.

BUT WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, IN NEW CHALLENGE IS EMERGING.

FIRST INTRODUCED IN THE 1940'S, FOREVER CHEMICALS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PFAS, HAVE BEEN USED IN MANY CONSUMER AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INCLUDING FOOD PACKAGING, WATER REPELLENTS, AND COSMETICS.

ACCORDING TO THE EPA, THEY CONTAMINATED SOIL, WATER, AIR, AND AQUATIC LIFE AROUND THE GLOBE.

AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THESE CHEMICALS ARE EVEN FOUND IN MOST HUMAN BLOODSTREAMS.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN TESTING FOR PFAS.

EPA HAS A ROADMAP TO WALK THROUGH THE STEPS OF HOW YOU EVEN COLLECT A SAMPLE.

.

BE FAST.

IS IN EVERYTHING.

IT IS IN PEOPLE HOW DO YOU COLLECT A SAMPLE WITHOUT: -- WITHOUT CONTAMINATING THE SAMPLE?

JOHN: ALTHOUGH DEFENSE PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES, SAWYERS SAYS SHE AND OTHERS STILL HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE PRIZE.

>> TO SEE THE PROGRESS PEOPLE ARE MAKING IS VERY EXCITING.

THE ORIGINAL OPERATIONS AT BLACKSTONE, THEY HAD TO RALLY SUPPORT TO GET THIS GOING AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE COMMUNITY GOING.

50 YEARS LATER, THE NEW GENERATION OF PEOPLE ARE COMING ON BOARD.

♪ HOST: FINALLY TONIGHT, A SNEAK PEEK.

WE RECENTLY SPENT SOME TIME WITH A PROVIDENCE NATIVE AND HOUSTON ASTROS START JEREMY PIÑA, WHO TOLD US ABOUT HIS PATH TO SUCCESS, AND A LOCAL BASEBALL TEAM THAT ENCOURAGES YOUNG PLAYERS TO NOT ONLY FIND THAT SWEET SPOT OF THE BAT ON THE BALL, BUT IN LIFE AS WELL.

ON THE DUSTY GOVERNMENT IN A PUBLIC PARK WITH DONATED EQUIPMENT, AND NO CLUBHOUSE, THE TEAM IS CALLED "PROVIDENCE SPORTS AND LEADERSHIP," OR PSL.

CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

>> NOT BASED ON THE BASEBALL, BUT BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PROGRAM.

IT STARTED WITH HARD WORK, CHEWING UP ON TIME, DISCIPLINE.

PUTTING THE WORK IN.

AND GOING FROM THERE.

BEING A GOOD PERSON GOES A LONG WAY.

HOST: FOR HIM, IT TOOK HIM TO THE MAJORS AND PLAYING THIS DAY IN FENWAY PARK AGAINST THE BOSTON RED SOX.

>> IT TAKES NATURAL TALENT AND HARD WORK THAT HE HAS PUT IN, AND HOPEFULLY PSL IS A PART OF THAT.

HOST: HE IS A COFOUNDER OF PSL, AND ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ENCOURAGING YOUNG PLAYERS TO HIT A GRAND SLAM AT THE PLATE AND IN LIFE.

>> BASEBALL IS THE HOOK WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHARACTER AND HARD WORK.

HOST: FLAHERTY SAYS A DECADE AGO HE WAS WORKING TO RENOVATE A PROPERTY IN SOUTH PROVIDENCE WHEN HE SPOTTED SOMETHING INTRIGUING FROM AN UPSTAIRS WINDOW.

>> I SAW KENNEDY RUNNING A PRACTICE.

MUST'VE BEEN 40 OR 50 KIDS BY HIMSELF, JUST BARKING AND COACHING, GETTING THE KIDS PLAYING BELL.

I WALKED OVER TO HIM AND HAVING A BASEBALL BACKGROUND AND HAVING A GOOD SENSE OF THE GAME AND HOW TO TEACH IT, I SAID, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

HOST: MOST OF THE PLAYERS BEING COACHED THAT DAY WERE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS.

FLAHERTY SAID HE COULD SEE THE TALENT AND SENSED THE NEED FOR FORMAL INSTRUCTION.

BUT CONVEYING HIS INTENTIONS WAS NOT EASY.

>> TWO VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND VISIONS AND CULTURES.

I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH.

EVERYBODY THINKS I LOOK LIKE A COP, I AM NOT A COP.

[LAUGHS] AND HOW HE KIND OF CAME TOGETHER AND OVER TIME, WERE ABLE TO SHARE OUR VISIONS AND SAY HEY, LET'S DO THIS.

HOST: HOST: THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM A SAID MIGUEL.

HOST: I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

UNTIL THEN, VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES ON OUR WEBSITE, OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY, VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪