The city of Phoenix Water Department is getting $300,000 from the federal government for its groundwater initiative.

The money comes from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and will be used for a new well, designed for long-term water storage.

With an ongoing drought and a toxic spill potentially threatening one of the state’s main water sources, the Phoenix water Director Kathryn Sorensen said the grant couldn’t have come at a better time.

“The city of Phoenix is very focused on the resiliency of its water supplies right now, for obvious reasons. We’re looking at the potential of shortages on the Colorado River staring us in the face," Soresen said. "We're very focused on resilliency. We want to make sure we can continue to support our economy, our public health and safety, and our quality of life. This grant fits right in to those actitvities.”

Once the project is completed in 2017, the city will be able to store multiple water sources within the new well.  

Phoenix was one of 23 recipients nationwide for grants totaling $5.2 million, but was the only Arizona city chosen for the federal funds.