We all want to save money, so it pays to monitor every drop of water you use, writes Sarah Pickette.

The bathroom accounts for about half the water used in an average home, and in the past decade Australians have become more mindful of exactly what's disappearing down the plughole. In fact, the Federal Government's National Water Commission reports that household water consumption fell 16 per cent between 2004 and 2009.

There are several reasons for this drop, says Nigel Finney, CEO of Savewater Alliance. "It's due to the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards [WELS] scheme, and behavioural changes brought about by rising water costs, education campaigns and, for most of us, a brush with drought or water restrictions." The improving technology in water-saving bathroom fittings has also had an impact.

The shower is an obvious place to start if you want to reduce water consumption. The most water-efficient showerheads (those with a three-star WELS rating) use less than nine litres of water per minute; old-style showerheads use 15-20 litres per minute. "If you're in the shower for six minutes, an efficient showerhead can save you up to 50 litres of water.

That's 20,000 litres of water per person per year, or about $150 off your water bill," says Brendan Elliott, spokeperson for Sydney Water.

For outstanding efficiency, check out the three-star PerfectFlow Ultimate showerhead (5.5 litres per minute) and Methven Satinjet Kiri (7.5 litres per minute). "The showerheads available now feel luxurious while using a minimal amount of water," says Finney. "They achieve this by blending air and water, using a small turbine to increase water pressure or by colliding water droplets to create a fuller-feeling shower."

Beyond the shower, taps can be improved with the addition of an aerator or flow restrictor. "You can reduce the volume of water going through your bathroom tap by between three and 15 litres a minute," says Elliott. If you're building or renovating, it's worth considering the latest Torino range of taps from Raymor. Most of the basin and sink mixers get a five-star WELS rating and use just six litres per minute.

When it comes to toilets, Caroma leads the way with its Profile range, which uses just 4.5 litres for a full flush and three litres for a half flush.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Indoor section.