More than 18,000 gallons of sewage overflowed in the Turners Station area of Baltimore County after power at two pumping stations was knocked out by storms early yesterday.

The spills began at 4 a.m. after holding tanks reached their capacity, county officials said.

Crews used portable generators to stop a spill at the Lyons Home Pumping Station at 119 Fleming Drive at 9 a.m. About 15,200 gallons of sewage leaked from the station.

A spill at the nearby Day Village Pumping Station at 521 Avondale Road was halted about 9:45 a.m. after 3,200 gallons were lost.

The sewage from the two stations, which are only blocks apart, flowed into Clement Cove and Peach Orchard Creek. Both waterways empty into Bear Creek south of Peninsula Expressway.

The county Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management posted signs warning residents to avoid contact with the water at Fleming Park, Turners Station Park and Watersedge Park. Signs were also posted behind Day Village Townhouses, which are along Peach Orchard Creek.

Also, signs were posted at Merritt Point Park and Chesterwood Park, both of which are upstream and are unlikely to be affected by the spills, county officials said.

County environmental officials advise people to avoid fishing, swimming or engaging in water sports in Peach Orchard Creek and Clement Cove.