How do you flush?

When you flush the toilet do you push the lever up or down?

It may sound like a very silly question, but there is some logic behind the question.

Like most public institutions, the local recreation centre is always looking for ways to save resources. The toilets have a dual flush mechanism. Push the handle one way for liquid waste (#1) and the the other way for solid waste (#2).

Understandably, the "liquid waste" flush uses less water than the "solid waste" flush. You activate the "liquid waste" flush by pulling the handle up, and activate the "solid waste" flush by pushing the handle down.

For me the problem with this design is that my default action is to push the handle down, which is the action that uses the most water. Does this not defeat the benefit of have a dual flush mechanism?

I know what you are thinking. He's a guy. If he's in the stall, he needs the big flush. Well, not if I'm in there with my daughter, or if all of the urinals are in use.

This may seem like a stupid little detail, but if the picture is correct and the "solid waste" flush uses three times the water of the "liquid waste" flush then that is potentially a tremendous amount of water that is being wasted.