Jo in the Water follows a passionate sea swimmer turned reluctant activist, Exmouth-based Jo Bateman, as she takes on one of the UK’s biggest water companies in a David-and-Goliath battle to protect our waters from devastating sewage pollution.
Our water system is broken. Since the privatisation of water companies in 1989, these entities have paid out billions in dividends to shareholders, while accumulating huge levels of debt.
This financial mismanagement has come at a severe environmental cost. The consequences are dire—for marine life, for public health, and for the communities who rely on these waters. Jo’s story is more than a legal fight; it’s a wake-up call.
A retired physiotherapist, Jo Bateman claimed pollution of the Exmouth sea has led to a “loss of amenity” and she was taking the matter to the small claims court.
“I started swimming in the sea and was absolutely bitten by the bug. The mental health benefits in terms of stress reduction mood enhancing are huge.”
But her daily swims were being interrupted by sewage spills, with a Surfers Against Sewage app alerting her to spills. Court action was the “only option open to me”, she said. It cost her £50 to make the claim and all she was asking for was £379.50 compensation.
“I think it’s worth fighting for the principle,” she said. “It’s not about the money.”
As Jo’s courage helps ignite a growing movement, this film exposes the dire state of our water system and asks: who will stand up for our right to swim in clean natural waters, for the species and communities that rely upon them?
Jo in the Water is a feature-length documentary made by award-winning filmmakers with a strong track record of bringing powerful stories to our cinema screens. It is not just about water pollution; it is about connection—to nature, to our own sense of place, and to our responsibility for the world around us.
Featuring Jo Bateman, Jeremy Vine, Jim Murray MBE and Chris Packham.
“Jo inspires people… they realise that together we have a greater strength. In a shoal like this we become mighty.”
Chris Packham, Wildlife TV presenter & conservationist
The film is coming to a cinema near you from 5th March. Click on the link below to check details of all current screenings:
