Flooding problems in Gunnislake have been discussed by Caradon councillors.
Members of the environmental services committee have been told that flooding at l Riverside Cottages, Newbridge, Gunnislake, appears to be linked to a culvert which discharges in the river immediately below the property.
A report explained: 'Investigation has shown that two inspection chambers on the culvert line have deteriorated and are now allowing water to escape.
This information has been obtained from a CCTV survey, which was the only way of identifying the fault in the system.'
After escaping from the culvert the water apparently leaks through a wall and builds up behind a retaining wall before topping it and flowing over the roof of a garage on lower ground - and then finding a route to the River Tamar.
Officers said they were concerned the wall may become unstable, so the fault will need to be rectified rapidly. A notice is to be served on South West Water as they were the last known owners of the culvert.
The report said: 'If they fail to repair the fault then the council will need to do the work, in default, and seek to recover the cost through the legal process.'
Councillors also heard that over the last five years Hessenford has been experiencing regular flooding. The current problem results in a build up of stone, silt and other material which is deposited under the bridge and in the bed immediately above and below the bridge - the result being flooding to two to three properties adjoining the river.
The solution to this is to undertake dredging of the bed which, it is now known, was a regular maintenance activity by the residents many years ago.