Farmers surrounding a former turlough in south Roscommon are warning of large scale pollution if a pipe is not installed to drain water from it.
Water levels at Lough Funshinagh in Roscommon are now at 0.9 of a metre below what they were at the end of January last year, with a full winter's rain yet to fall.
Residents in local houses are expecting to see their homes flood or be close to flooding this year, with pumps likely to be required to keep water at bay.
The Office of Public Works has ruled out installing a pipe to drain the lake due to what is described by local residents and politicians as a "flawed" cost benefit analysis which does not take habitat or farm yields into account.
Rahara resident Padraig Beattie says it's not just about their homes or the short term future, it's a pollution risk for the River Shannon within the next five years.
