In the battle to prevent further pollution of the Vineyard’s ponds, Island officials are eying a new way of disposing human waste: cutting-edge toilets.

The controversial 97 Spring street redevelopment in Vineyard Haven continues to attract litigation, with neighbors appealing the approval of a septic permit for the nine-bedroom, nine-bathroom house while its owner contests the dismissal of his conspiracy suit against the neighbors and two Tisbury officials.

When the new year arrived so did a set of costly septic regulations in Tisbury, with 1,500 home systems immediately subject to new rules from the town board of health.

Island officials hope a new Martha's Vineyard Commission report that explores ways to cut down the amount of nitrogen pollution in up-Island ponds could serve as a blueprint for local planners.

Updates to the state's Title 5 regulations that were originally proposed for the Cape, South Coast and the Islands will now only go into effect on Cape Cod, state officials said this week.

The Dukes County commission voted this week to dedicate $1.4 million to help all seven towns in the county install septic systems designed to prevent nitrogen from seeping into fragile saltwater ponds.