Five remote Queensland councils have formed a water alliance, joining forces to save money while keeping pace with changes in regulation and management.

The Outback Regional Water Alliance has been launched, bringing together the Longreach, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Boulia and Diamantina councils.

The formal group is the result of a trial project in recent years, during which councils investigated the usefulness of joint contracts, regulations and rules.

It is the first official grouping from the trial some years ago, and the councils involved say they are looking “to try and get better bang for our buck out of our water systems,” according to Longreach Mayor Joe Owens.

The alliance will now seek to secure extra funding for water projects in the regions, which are most often left-out in favour of more populated or resource-linked projects.