Developers and DeKalb's government are overcoming problems with the county's aging sewer system that had threatened to slow business growth.

DeKalb officials have approved 17 projects this month, including townhomes, restaurants and shops.

Some of these developments will have to build holding tanks and pumping stations to reduce the risk of sewage spills. Other projects won't have to take any action because the sewer system can already handle the load.

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)