Water treatment with electrolysis was performed in a specially made electrolytic cell containing TinO2n-1 ceramic anode and Escherichia coli was used as a model organism for disinfection tests. The results showed that even relatively low energy input (0.5 – 2.5 kWh/m3, depending on water conductivity) in water samples with chloride ions concentration below 50 mg/L, TinO2n-1 ceramic electrodes generated active chlorine in the range of 0.4-3.5 mg Cl2/L, which is the level of chorine used for water disinfection. The results also confirmed that disinfection effect is a result of generation of oxidant species from chlorine rather than effect of electricity per se, formation of radicals in water. At chloride ion concentration about 7 mg/L E. coli is not culturable, not able to divide and not respiring. Results showed that increase of current above 0.02 A at chloride ion concentration of 7 mg/L was sufficient to inactivate both culturable and VBNC E. coli. Notably, the ability to divide (DVC positive) was lost more rapidly than the ability to respire. Kinetics of disinfection was studied in water sample which was treated with 0.02 A at chloride ion concentration of 7 mg/L. After about 15 minutes of exposure no culturable or able-to-divide E. coli was detected in the sample. Using the TinO2n-1 electrode in the electrolysis process with the presence of chloride ions, in concentration range which is common in raw waters, can create a level of active chlorine that kills more than 99% of E. coli within 15 minutes. The practically applicable simple model for prediction of disinfection efficacy with electrolytic cell has been proposed.