# Water and drains
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-drains/203414
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 23, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-drains/203414 "2003-09-23T23:07:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-drains/203414/1 "2003-09-23T23:07:39Z")
We all know water drains clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern.
My question is…Is there a transition area where the change takes place? Is it sudden? Just north of the equator clockwise…just south counter clockwise?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-drains/203414/2 "2003-09-23T23:25:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Reeder \*
> \*\*We all know water drains clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern.
>
> My question is…Is there a transition area where the change takes place? Is it sudden? Just north of the equator clockwise…just south counter clockwise? \*\*
Actually, this is wrong. The Coriolis force, the force said to be responsible for this behavior is extremely weak over small distances. Over large distances, it does have an effect such as in hurricanes. In toilets and sinks, the shape of the vessel and the way water is poured into it have a far greater effect on the direction the water drains out.
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### Author:  [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-drains/203414/3 "2003-09-23T23:27:54Z")
Thanks for setting me straight.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-drains/203414/4 "2003-09-23T23:28:20Z")
And of course, [Cecil concurs.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_161.html)