A new report from Roscommon County Council suggests floodwaters may not begin to be pumped from Lough Funshinagh until after Christmas.
The revised scheme of works was announced by the local authority yesterday following previous measures being halted by a High Court order.
The new emergency works are designed to maintain water levels at the site until a permanent solution is implemented.
An Environmental screening report commissioned by Roscommon County Council has stated that six homes along the current boundary of the lake are in danger of being lost to further flooding over the winter period.
Under the new plans, 2 pumps will be situated 70 metres from the shore, with intake hoses leading down to the lake.
Its planned that the pumps will remove up to 2 million cubic metres of floodwater from Lough Funshinagh over the course of 39 days.
The water will be transported along almost 2 kilometres of overground piping to an existing stream that flows into Lough Ree at Carnagh Bay.
Two crews of 12 each, including contractors, engineers and environmental personnel will install the piping, with construction set to take up to 12 weeks and works restricted to between 7.30 and 5.30 during weekdays and 7.30 and 2 pm on Saturdays.
The construction time combined with the pumping schedule means the majority of the water will not be removed from the lake until February according to the report.
Roscommon County Council has stated that if the lake is not subject to inflows over the coming months, floodwaters should lower by 540mm following the drainage works.
