Eight East Columbia families were evacuated from their homes last night when natural gas leaked into their water systems.
The gas leak was discovered when it caused water to spew from a toilet in a home in the 6000 block of Granite Knoll about 6:30 p.m, said Peggy Mulloy, a Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. spokeswoman.
"There wasn't an explosion, but there was a loud noise," she said.
No one was injured, said Howard County Fire and Rescue officials, who immediately evacuated 17 people from eight homes on Granite Knoll, a court off Tamar Drive.
Families were taken to Jeffers Hill Elementary School, fire officials said. "Most of the people at Jeffers Hill will probably be going to a motel, friends or neighbors," Lt. Michael Baker, a fire spokesman, said.
Fire officials said the families can not return to their homes until BGE plugs the leak. BGE shut off the water and gas to the homes and has been digging exploratory holes, but has not found the source of the leak, Ms. Mulloy said.
She said the leak may have been caused by a rusting gas main and electric cable that were touching, creating a hole in the main and causing gas to seep into the water system in a common trench beneath the houses. She said it was apparent that the electric cable had rusted because it had caused a brief power outage earlier yesterday.