Within 3,000 feet of the water intakes, there is NO trespassing - not even boating. A variety of microorganisms are capable of growing on household water fixtures and may produce a film or slime. These slimes are naturally occurring and are generally harmless. Because many of these microorganisms are resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants, they can continue to recolonize on fixtures after disinfection. Many tests have shown that the amount of chlorine found in treated water is safe to drink.
Chlorine is needed to maintain disinfection throughout the distribution system.
The potential of water contaminations without a chlorine additive outweighs the chlorine concerns. My drinking water often looks cloudy when first taken from a faucet and then it clears up. The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the gas bubbles in beer and carbonated soft drinks. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone. This type of cloudiness occurs more often in the winter, when the drinking water is cold.