The social impacts of desalination plants are still highly controversial. There are different viewpoints as to whether desalination plants are more beneficial to humanity or more harmful to humanity and these viewpoints are determined by a number of factors including location of people, location of desalination plants, and need for water, among others.

Most people who care strongly for or against desalination plants are people who live nearby the plant. In 2007 and 2008, protesters in Victoria, Australia got much attention for their opposition to a desalination plant near them. The people who live near the plant have been labeled NIMBYs, or Not In My Back Yards, and are often characterized as ignorant and selfish. It is found that NIMBYs are not necessarily more likely to disagree with the plants, but they are more likely to speak out, defend their opinions and take public action.

A survey was conducting in 2011, consisting of 3 random samples: one of 7000 people from all over Australia, one of 1500 people within 20km of a desalination plant in Victoria, Australia, and one of 1500 people within 20km of a desalination plant in South Australia. Out of the 3077 completed surveys, we can gage the level of support Australians have regarding desalination. Some of the questions asked include:

• How supportive are you of desalination as a response to domestic water shortages in Australia?

  • 31% responded negatively, 23% were indifferent, 46% responded positively

• If it was announced that desalination was to be a preferred response to domestic water supply shortages in your local area, how positive or negative would you be?

  • 46% responded negatively, 15% were indifferent, 39% responded positively

• Desalination plants are generally a good idea.

  • 22% disagreed, 24% were indifferent, 54% agreed

King, Tanya J., Ooi, Daniel, Cary, John, Fisher, Adrian, Schibeci, Renato, Murphy, Kristina, O'Toole, Kevin, Mearns, Malcolm and Donaldson, Jilleen A. 2012. Public perceptions of, and responses to, desalination in Australia : a report on findings, Alfred Deakin Research Institute, Geelong, Vic. http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30051882/king-publicperceptions-2012.pdf.

King, Tanya J. and Murphy, Kristina. 2012. Procedural Justice as a component of the Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) syndrome: Understanding opposition to the building of a desalination plant in Victoria, Australia. Alfred Deaking Research Institute, Geelong, Vic. http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30051875/king-proceduraljustice-2012.pdf.