Word of the fuel spill on the Mississippi River brought questions about how it's affecting the air locals breath and the water they drink.

The collision happened below the water intake for the east bank of Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, so there is no concern there for drinking water. But water intakes for Algiers, Gretna, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes are downriver from the wreckage, so those water purifying plants stopped taking in river water.

About a day’s worth of reserve water that had already been purified is now in use. And water pressure has been reduced, so everyone in those areas is being asked to conserve water.

Some fuel did get into the Algiers intake, but the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board says there is no health concern.

“We'd like to assure the public that the drinking water on the west bank of New Orleans is perfectly safe. The Sewerage  and Water Board discontinued its intake system about 3 a.m. this morning,” said Marcia St. Martin, Executive Director for Sewerage and Water.  “At some this afternoon, we will begin opening up the intake again and we will then add carbon to the water to minimize any taste or odor that could possibly  happen.”

Since it is unclear when they will be able to reopen the intakes -- as a precaution -- St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes have requested that the state and private companies bring in extra water supplies.

Meanwhile, DEQ is monitoring air quality and says the levels of hydrocarbons in the air never required action. 

Doctors say that people with chronic lung and heart problems could have health issues.

“This is thicker so it stays on the surface of the water, but it is volatile and it does evaporate, so I'm not surprised that people are smelling it near the river and on bridges and on ferries,” said Dr. Jim Diaz, a professor of Public Health at LSU.

And one local hospital said that a few people with asthma came in with some breathing problems and were treated and are fine.