Justin Keller

Justin has been a member of the MPC Water Resources team since August 2018 and leads the Drinking Water 1-2-3 initiative, Calumet Stormwater Collaborative, and much of our suburban water work.

Building off the success of our guide for municipal staff and officials, the Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy hosted a series of events in 2019 focused on important water supply management topics, including water conservation, community engagement, service sharing, sensible salting, and more. This event series attracted over 200 participants and representatives from 50 municipalities in northeastern Illinois. In 2020, we pivoted to offering technical assistance to a handful of communities – including a lead service line replacement plan and a water priorities report – and the two-year cycle began again with another round of events in 2021.

Calumet Stormwater Collaborative (CSC) is going strong in its seventh year, continuing to convene monthly and attracting members from diverse sectors working on stormwater management. Through implementation of CSC’s 3-year Work Plan, MPC and other CSC member organizations are making great progress on each of the foundational activities, which include establishing a baseline understanding of existing green infrastructure, urban flooding, and municipal capacity to plan for and manage stormwater in the Calumet region. We are also making progress on relevant trainings and systems to ensure the region is getting the most bang for our buck with our stormwater infrastructure investments.

Justin holds a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he specialized in environmental planning and received professional certification from the American Institue of Certified Planners in early 2021. He is currently Treasurer of the APA-IL Chicago Metro Section, member of the Illinois Section American Water Works Association, and proud father of an active and adorable 2-year old.

Read Justin’s MPC Spotlight