Council's just approved a $390,000 budget increase for the Gleneagles Reserve Stormwater Flood Mitigation project — that's Project 3454, and it directly affects the Findon catchment draining through Kenneth Reserve. With 14mm on May 2nd and another 15mm two days later, the clay under Findon's older blocks is already saturated and not going anywhere fast. SA Water flagged Findon as high-risk for sewer blockages back in December — 7 blockages per 100km of main, mostly from root intrusion and cooking fats hitting those 150mm and 225mm lines along Grange Road and Noble Street. The Housing Trust upgrades at Nicholls Court are adding load to infrastructure that was sized for 1950s occupancy, not modern infill density. If you're in one of those mid-century places with earthenware drains, the combination of wet soil, old pipes, and increased sewer load means blockages aren't a matter of if. Call us now and a plumber we dispatch can get eyes on your system before the next rain event turns a slow drain into a sewage backup.
City of Charles Sturt notes
“Budgeted expenditure for Gleneagles Reserve Stormwater Flood Mitigation and Reserve Upgrade (Project 3454 – upgrade) be increased by $390,000 from savings in Road Reconstruction 2024/25 to complete remaining Reserve upgrade works.”
City of Charles Sturt
This directly affects Findon's Kenneth Reserve catchment — during and after construction, private stormwater connections may see changed flow patterns, and any weak points in older lines will show up fast.
“Storm Water Pump Station – Componentry Renewal 2024/25 (Project 3585 – Renewal), project scope changed to include electrical infrastructure and pump variable speed drive renewal.”
City of Charles Sturt
Pump station upgrades across Charles Sturt mean temporary capacity changes during works — Findon properties relying on pumped stormwater systems should watch for backup during heavy rain events.
“Council accepts $200,061 (ex GST) for tree planting and irrigation works on Holbrooks Road, Flinders Park.”
City of Charles Sturt
Holbrooks Road borders Findon — irrigation works mean ground disturbance and potential service location changes for properties on the Findon side of that corridor.
●richSource: City of Charles SturtUpdated 2026-04-28
Findon profile
Findon falls within the City of Charles Sturt local government area in Western Adelaide, South Australia.
Noble Street and Grange Road sit on SA Water's high-risk sewer corridor — the 150mm and 225mm mains there cop the worst of Findon's root intrusion and fat buildup. The Housing Trust stock at Nicholls Court is 1950s–60s walk-up flats with original earthenware drains now handling upgraded occupancy loads, which means those shared sewer lines are under more stress than they were designed for. The newer infill townhouses around Matheson Avenue have PVC plumbing that won't fail the same way, but they're connecting into the same ageing council mains — so a blockage downstream affects everyone. If you're in the older stock between Findon Road and Grange Road, your pipes are the same vintage as the ones SA Water keeps clearing, and the reactive clay soil means joint movement is constant.
When calls come in: Findon's older housing stock means most emergency calls come early morning (6–8am) when hot water units fail under first-use load, and evening (5–8pm) when kitchen drains block after dinner prep. Stormwater calls spike within 24 hours of any rain event over 10mm — the clay holds water and blockages show up fast.
Findon emergency callouts
Emergency Plumber — Burst pipe — water off, flooding riskFindon, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Blocked drain — slow or backing upFindon, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Hot water failure — no heat or pressureFindon, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Sewer backup — sewage at floor wasteFindon, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Leaking tap or fitting — urgent repairFindon, SA · 30–60 min
Emergency Plumber — Gas fitting emergency — isolation requiredFindon, SA · 30–60 min
Findon Plumber FAQ
The $390,000 upgrade to Project 3454 targets the Kenneth Reserve catchment, which handles runoff from a chunk of Findon's residential streets. During construction, temporary diversions or capacity changes can affect how quickly stormwater clears from your property — especially if you're on a flat block that already drains slowly. If you notice water pooling longer than usual after rain, or your stormwater grates backing up, it's worth getting a plumber to check your private lines aren't blocked or misaligned with the upgraded council infrastructure. The works are designed to improve flood mitigation long-term, but the transition period can expose weak points in older private connections.
Slow drains in Findon's older housing almost always mean partial blockage — tree roots threading through earthenware joints, grease buildup in cast iron, or pipe scale narrowing the bore. The danger is that a partial blockage becomes a full blockage during the next heavy use or rain event, and then you've got sewage backing up into the house. A plumber we dispatch can run a camera through the line and tell you exactly what's causing the slowdown — roots, grease, or a collapsed section. If it's roots or grease, a jet blast clears it same day. If it's collapse, you'll know before it becomes an emergency. Waiting until it's fully blocked usually means more damage and a bigger bill.
Galvanised steel pipes in Findon's 1950s–70s homes fail in a predictable sequence. First sign is rust-coloured water when you first turn on a tap — that's internal corrosion shedding into the flow. Next comes pressure drop, because the pipe bore is narrowing with scale and rust. Then you get pinhole leaks, usually at joints or bends where stress concentrates. Finally, a section bursts — often in winter when thermal contraction stresses the weakened metal. If you're seeing discoloured water or noticing pressure isn't what it used to be, get a plumber to inspect the accessible sections under the house and at the meter pit. Catching it at the rust-water stage means a planned replacement; catching it at the burst stage means emergency repair and water damage.
In a 1960s Findon home, the usual failure sequence is: hot water unit first (if it's original or even a 1990s replacement, it's past design life), then galvanised water supply lines (internal corrosion causes pressure loss and discoloured water), then earthenware sewer pipes (root intrusion at joints, especially in clay soil that shifts seasonally). Taps and valves go next — brass fittings corrode in this soil, and once one fails, the others are usually close behind. The stormwater system often lasts longer because it's not under constant pressure, but blocked or poorly graded lines show up after heavy rain. A plumber we dispatch can do a condition audit and tell you what's urgent versus what can wait another year.
You can't tell from the symptoms alone — both a blocked and a collapsed sewer line cause slow drains, gurgling, and sewage smells. The difference matters because a blockage can be cleared with a jet blast or electric eel, while a collapse needs excavation and pipe replacement. The only way to know is a CCTV drain camera inspection. A plumber we dispatch runs the camera through the line and can see exactly what's happening — roots, grease, a bellied section holding water, or a full collapse where the pipe has caved in. In Findon's reactive clay soil, collapses aren't rare — the ground movement cracks earthenware pipes over decades. The camera inspection costs a fraction of a misdiagnosed repair, and it tells you exactly what you're dealing with.
SA Water flagged Findon for 7 blockages per 100km of sewer main — mostly root intrusion and cooking fats. Prevention starts with what goes down the drain: no cooking oil, no wet wipes, no sanitary products. For roots, if you've got large trees within 10 metres of your sewer line, get a camera inspection every 2–3 years to catch intrusion early — a jet blast clears small root masses before they become full blockages. If you're in one of the older places along Grange Road or Noble Street, consider a preventative root treatment (copper sulphate or commercial root killer) flushed through annually. And if your drains are slowing down, don't wait — a plumber we dispatch can clear the line and tell you whether you need ongoing maintenance or a section replacement.