Treatment of liquids

An apparatus suitable for use in the treatment of a liquid, said apparatus comprising a high voltage electric discharge device with a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from said first electrode, and dielectric support members for said first and second electrodes, with exposed opposed portions of said first and second electrodes each having a dielectric—electrode interface between the respective electrode and said support dielectric member, whereby a local increase in electric field strength is induced at said exposed opposed electrode portions adjacent said dielectric support member during use of the apparatus, thereby facilitating electric discharge initiation, said discharge device including electrical power supply control means formed and arranged for applying a series of high voltage pulses across exposed opposed portions of said first and second electrodes when said device is connected to an electrical power supply, so as to produce and maintain an extended area electrical discharge in an electric discharge plasma zone extending between said exposed opposed portions of said first and second electrodes, said apparatus including a gas delivery means formed and arranged for feeding a series of bubbles of gas into a body of liquid in said electric discharge zone in direct contact with said exposed opposed portions of said first and second electrodes, and wherein said first and said second electrodes are in the form of generally planar members in opposed relation, each having a plurality of apertures therein for the passage of said liquid through the first electrode and then the second electrode via said electric discharge zone extending there between.