Effects associated with the electrical breakdown of water using porous ceramic‐coated rod electrodes were investigated for two types of ceramics, oxide (corundum) and silicates (almandine). Properties of the ceramic layer and its interaction with the electrolyte were found as important factors in the generation of electrical discharges in water. Initiation of the discharge depended not only on the permittivity and porosity of the ceramic, but also the surface charge formed on the ceramic, which was determined by the polarity of the applied voltage, and the pH and chemical composition of aqueous solution. An electrical double layer associated with the buildup of surface charge at ceramic/electrolyte interface affected the electric field distribution on the ceramic electrode. Using monopolar high voltage pulses, this layer became polarized, which, under certain experimental conditions, eventually quenched the electrical discharge in water. Applying bipolar pulses eliminated these effects.