A £680,000 scheme to prevent flooding in Surbiton has begun and will continue into next spring.
Thames Water hopes the work will stop storm water backing up in drains and flooding homes.
As well as increasing capacity in the sewers under Brown's Road so they can cope with increased flows after heavy rain, ponds at Fishponds Park, in Ewell Road, will serve as extra storm water storage.
Project manager Andy Wolfe said: "We're doing this work to protect seven homes on Brown's Road from the risk of storm water flooding. Using existing ponds as rainwater overflows is not only a more sustainable approach, it will also reduce the need for street works, minimising disruption on the local community.
"Having said that, there will be some traffic and noise disruption, for which we apologise. As part of the scheme, the ponds will be dredged of silt, a wetland area will be created to attract wildlife and additional trees will be planted."
Steps are being taken to avoid the risk of the ponds becoming polluted and embankments will be built to stop them over-spilling.
Fish have been removed from the pond while it is dredged and will be returned when the work is completed in March.
