It was a lesson in the consumer power of social media, when a single Facebook post led multiple Sydneysiders to believe inner west homeowners had been sent anti same-sex marriage flyers with their Sydney Water bills.

The post, left on the Sydney Water Facebook page on Thursday, included a comment from a Facebook user that said, "I signed up for water supply not a hate flyer!".



It was coupled with an image of a flyer that was allegedly included with a water bill, which read: "Protect our children. Protect our freedoms. Defend natural marriage."

Despite being deleted hours later, the post prompted comments and complaints from customers offended by the alleged mail out, leading to an investigation by Sydney Water.