The recent oil spill is creating quite the mess all across the New Orleans metro area, one that's leaving residents wondering and worrying about their water. 

As of Wednesday evening, Plaquemines Parish is under a state of emergency, parts of Orleans Parish are under a drinking advisory, and St. Bernard Parish is now dealing with dwindling amounts of water.

About 23,000 residents across Plaquemines Parish are being asked to cut down on water consumption.  "We have about 30 hours left of water," said Billy Nungesser, Plaquemines Parish President.  "Earlier this morning we did a reverse 911 call warning the people in the East Bank to conserve water."

Five of the water intake stations in Plaquemines have been shut down.  Throughout the area, orange barricades have been placed in the water in hopes of slowing down the sludge in the Mississippi River. 

"As it moved down the river, they closed our Belle Chasse Ferries," said Nungesser.  Later Wednesday evening, the parish also shut down service for the Point a la Hache Ferry.  While creating an inconvenience on the water, Nungesser says the spill is not creating a risk for residents in their homes.  Because the water currently being pumped into area residences is from a stocked supply Nungesser says people are safe to drink and bathe with the water. 

Meanwhile, the spill is also creating a mess in Orleans Parish.  For about 12 hours today, a water intake plant on the West Bank was completely shut down.  For those living in Algiers, such a closure limits water usage to what is already in supply, and that amount is far from endless.

Marcia St. Martin, Executive Director of the Sewerage & Water Board, says the current water supply could last "three quarters to one full day, possible a day and a half."

But after testing by the Sewerage and Water Board, the parish has since decided to reopen the facility.  "Our tests confirm that we can treat the water even with the contaminants that are potentially in the river and provide good quality water to our citizens," said Mayor Ray Nagin.
Still, the city is now in the process of hiring an independent company out of Lafayette to conduct more tests, and until those results arrive Mayor Nagin says those with health concerns in certain parts of the parish should exercise caution.  "We suggest to our citizens on the West Bank and Algiers that they drink water in moderation until we get the testing back, number one, and until that barge is removed."

St. Bernard Parish is also reeling from today's spill.  The parish only has about a day's worth of water left in supply, according to Parish President Craig Taffaro.  Unless the water intake plants are reopened tomorrow, Taffaro says St. Bernard -- much like Plaquemines Parish -- will declare a state of emergency.  Taffaro has already put the state's Department of Homeland Security on alert that they may need to have huge quantities of water bused into the parish.