Alright, this tv ad made me laugh.

Apparently these Brazilian television commercials – as shown above – are encouraging Brazillians to save water… by urinating in the shower.

Brazilian environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica says the campaign, running on several television stations, uses humor to persuade people to reduce flushes. The group says if a household avoids one flush a day, it can save up to 4,380 liters (1,157 gallons) of water annually.

In case you are having a hard time translating, the ad ends with kids yelling “Pee in the shower! Save the Atlantic rainforest!” Would we ever have a tv commercial like this in Canada? Heh. I can’t even imagine. Sure, the idea’s a bit odd. But hey, why not, right? I think it’s a super creative way to be playful with a serious subject.

Here’s the campaign’s website: http://www.xixinobanho.org.br

Saving water doesn’t have to be a struggle. Read on for 12 ways to conserve water in your bathroom, kitchen and yard.

1. Change your bathing routine by switching from baths to showers. A bath uses more than 80 litres of water; a shower uses less than 38 litres every five minutes.
2. If you prefer taking a shower to soaking in a bath, shorten your time; 10 minutes is too long. Also, a low-flow showerhead and faucet will save as much as 50 per cent of the water you use each time.
3. Low-flush toilets conserve water and reduce the greenhouse gases produced in the water-purification process.
4. Newer toilet tanks use about six litres of water -– about two-thirds less than old models. If you don’t want to buy a new toilet, place a one-litre capped plastic water bottle in the tank to replace some of the water so less is used for each flush.
5. Faucets run seven to 11 litres of water each minute. Turn off taps when you aren’t using them.
6. Consider going veggie at least two or three times a week. It takes up to 5,000 gallons of water to raise one pound of meat; one pound of wheat takes 25 gallons.
7. Rinse fruit and vegetables before and after peeling instead of continuously under running water.
8. Disconnect your downspout. In a city, your eavestroughs likely drain into a downspout connected to the sewer system. Heavy rain can overtax the system, releasing sewage, oil, pesticide residues and other contaminants into lakes and rivers. Some cities will disconnect your downspout for free. Less water flowing through municipal treatment plants saves money, too.
9. Use a rain barrel. Set it under your downspout to reduce the load on storm sewers and lower your utility bill. To reduce the risk of West Nile virus, buy one with a mosquito screen or simply empty the barrel twice weekly.
10. Dig compost into your flowerbeds, plant native species, and mulch around plants, shrubs and trees.  The Clean Water Foundation says just five centimetres of mulch reduces a flowerbed’s water requirements by 70 per cent. It also slows weed growth.
11. Water wisely, if you must. Watering cans and soaker hoses waste the least. And water early in the day to prevent evaporation. Occasional, deep watering is better than frequent, light sprinkling.
12. Sow drought-tolerant and disease-resistant grass; don’t water established lawns during dry spells; let mown grass lie to nourish the earth and conserve moisture; and leave any clover (its roots add nitrogen to the soil). Top-dress with compost, reseed bald spots, rake out thatch and keep mower blades sharp and set at least 6.5 centimetres aboveground, says Greenpeace.