"Flow electrification" occurs whenever a fluid passes along a charged surface, creating an electrokinetic "streaming current" or "streaming potential' and is known to cause non-uniform corrosion (and other) problems in non-aqueous fluids. After observing unusual corrosion failures of copper in relatively low conductivity (similar to 150 mu S/cm) potable water, a series of laboratory studies was conducted that verified flow electrification could also develop in aqueous systems and contribute to non-uniform corrosion. Relatively high direct streaming currents along pipelines were quantified in model systems with plastic dielectrics, which accelerated corrosion on the affected pipe section by up to 0.5 mu A/cm(2) (assuming uniform corrosion). Very rapid non-uniform pipe failures (i.e., full wall penetration in 7 months) occurred in a system without dielectrics simulating a potable water recirculation system. The effects of flow electrification were virtually eliminated by addition of low levels of zinc phosphate, an inhibitor used in approximate 25% of potable water distribution systems. Flow electrification was also observed in plastic pipe systems with brass connectors. (C) The Author(s) 2016. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 License (CC BY-NC-ND, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited. For permission for commercial reuse, please email: [email protected]. All rights reserved.