Cork County Council has warned a number of industries in the Little Island area that they face prosecution if they do not act to prevent sludge and effluent flowing into a disused quarry in the area.
According to a council spokesman, a number of companies will be served with notices under the Waste Management Act and if they fail to comply with the requirements, they could face prosecution.
The action follows complaints by Little Island residents about the quarry, which has become flooded with sludge and effluent and which residents say is posing a major health hazard in the area.
Little Island Residents spokeswoman Ms Ann Kelly said the group planned to picket the industrial estate on Friday to highlight the problem with the quarry, which was emptied before by Cork County Council following similar complaints.