When Zsa Zsa Gabor, that beacon of Hollywood light and wisdom, was arrested years ago for slapping a Beverly Hills cop, a friend asked whether her behavior came from ignorance or apathy. Her answer was apt, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

Perhaps that same mindset explains some Wood River Valley water users’ approach to water priority law.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources has found one way to teach a lesson about water priority to those residents — with a padlock. The agency has been forced to shut off flows from the Big Wood River to some homes — notably those in the multimillion-dollar range — for illegal use. David Murphy, a water master for District 37, told the Idaho Mountain Express that homeowners have filled private ponds or irrigate lawns excessively, to the detriment of downstream irrigators.

Unfortunately, those posh homeowners aren’t interested in the tutorial. After shutting down surface irrigators with rights junior to 1884 a few weeks ago, Murphy found a chain cut and water turned back on. That was followed by calls from residents’ high-priced lawyers demanding their water be reinstated.

Tell it to the judge, folks. Idaho water is (or should be) appropriated according to the priority doctrine of first in time. Those farmers who live below Friedman Airport aren’t just there for the scenery.

“Welcome to Sun Valley,” said Murphy. “This is typical America, the land of greed, where people just take, take, take. There are so many (people stealing) up here. It’s a runaway problem.”

Whether it’s runaway or not, we don’t know, but the problem isn’t new. The population boom in Blaine County since 1990 has come primarily from out-of-state newcomers who are unfamiliar with water priority in ordinances and laws.

Even one of Blaine County’s biggest celebrities, Bruce Willis, flubbed a few run-ins with water agencies. The actor and Hailey resident paid a penalty to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2004 for violating federal wetland protection laws, and he was cited by IDWR in 1998 for violating a stream alteration permit. But Willis cooperated fully with authorities in both instances.

Additionally, municipal conservation is just catching on in areas of Wood River Valley. Ketchum has had a water meter system for irrigation and residential for years. But others are just getting on board. Sun Valley added irrigation water meters six years ago, and Hailey will start water meter rates on Oct. 1. Bellevue still charges water users on a flat rate.

Jack Brown, a general manager for the Sun Valley Water District, said his agency introduced “pretty explicit” instructions to residential users on water use, but violations continue. He agrees that both surface water users and residential irrigators need to learn more on the conservation side.

“It’s the same mindset (with both users) that brings about the abuse,” he said. “We need to do more education, and hopefully that will bring about more compliance.”

That’s sound advice for all water users and irrigators, and not just those in the Wood River Valley.