Well, most people aren't practicing organic growing methods so the microbes aren't much of a factor for them, but your point about the dangers of chlorine being overblown are well founded.We should be asking ourselves if the chlorine in the city water was so terrible then why are there all those still green and growing residential and commercial lawns in the areas with treated city water? Or people with healthy houseplants, flowers on the front porch, or vegetable gardens out back even after watering with city water all summer?