Ninety-eight miles of Mississippi River closed from New Orleans southward . Closure could last days , but cleanup could take weeks , Coast Guard says . The Mississippi is the primary source of drinking water for the region , and workers have deployed booms around intakes for local water systems , said Paul Book , the head of the cleanup effort for barge owners American Commercial Lines . Score: 6 River is major route for cargo between Midwest , Gulf of Mexico .
Ninety-eight miles of Mississippi River closed from New Orleans southward . Closure could last days , but cleanup could take weeks , Coast Guard says . Score: 6 River is major route for cargo between Midwest , Gulf of Mexico .