I happen to be pretty germ-phobic. HOWEVER, I know that the average American's water supply has enough chlorine to kill most microbes. When I moved to Vegas we had so much more chlorine in our water than I had in New Yoprk that my bath tub looked greenish when filled. It tasted horrible. After 3 months here they said they were about to gradually DOUBLE the amount of chlorine -- partially in response to 9/11. I haven't had a drink of tap water since, but I run it over everything I use for food. I'd almost bet I could eat raw chicken if I soaked it in Vegas tap water for 5 minutes (not that I'd want to)!