Urban legend or fact?

A number of you have asked us to be a part of a little investigative journalism project that you are interested in. The conversation usually goes something like this:

"So, is Burundi in the southern hemisphere?"

"Yes, it is actually, just south of the equator. I bet you're wandering about the water drainage."

"Yes! That is exactly what I want to know! Is it true that the toilets flush the other way and that water drains counterclockwise? Will you report back/take a picture/record a video of this important phenomena?"

Now, let me take this opportunity to point out that Ron is probably more curious about this than anyone. He's invoked gravity, the Earth's magnetic field, and Tom Cruise when trying to explain why it would spin the other direction.

So. Here we are, in the southern hemisphere, with these pressing geophysical questions on our mind.

But we've discovered that we're missing a key link. We don't have enough water building up in our shower, sink, or toilet for us to have any observational luck. Our shower water pressure is about six large drops per 2.1 seconds, so no dice there. The sink water sprays out crazily in every direction but is barely enough to get your hands wet so no drainage excitement there either. And the toilet is nearly waterless and doesn't flush in a way that any Western mind would understand, so we're out of luck on that one too.

So, we're frustrated. Ron is currently threatening to drill a hole in the bottom of Lake Tanganyika and see which direction THAT drains if he can't figure it out soon.