Feds urged to pay more for SA stormwater

Stormwater South Australia wants to see more federal government funding for drainage upgrades.

A Senate inquiry, instigated by independent Senator Nick Xenophon, sat in Adelaide on Wednesday looking at the potential for greater stormwater harvesting across Australia.

Stormwater South Australia appeared before the committee calling on the federal government to help upgrade "inadequate" drainage systems.

"Local government is unable to deliver these upgrade works without funding from other levels of government or excessive burden on its ratepayers," it said in its written submission.

"A very low level of South Australian state government funding has remained almost static for nearly 25 years."

Senator Xenophon said the federal government needed to play a bigger role in stormwater initiatives.

"Like the debate on the future of the River Murray, only the federal government has the muscle to set stormwater policy and organise the necessary funding," he said.