Ensuring　safe　drinking　water　is　a　global　priority,　with　pathogen　control　being　an　essential　aspect.　Chlorine　disinfection　is　widely　adopted　for　its　affordability　and　potent　antimicrobial　effects.　However,　certain　bacteria,　known　as　chlorine-resistant　bacteria　(CRB),　can　still　survive　in　water　systems　with　residual　chlorine,　posing　risks　to　water　quality　and　distribution　systems.　Their　emergence,　ironically,　can　be　partially　attributed　to　the　very　application　or　increased　dosage　of　chlorine　disinfectants　in　certain　cases,　which　unintentionally　promoted　the　selection　and　adaptation　of　CRB　in　the　environment.　Despite　their　significance,　research　on　CRB　remains　fragmented,　with　few　systematic　reviews　or　bibliometric　analyses.　Thus,　this　study　addresses　the　gap　by　analyzing　1367　publications　(1984–2025)　regarding　CRB　in　drinking　water　supply　systems　(DWSSs)　using　CiteSpace.　Important　aspects　including　typical　species,　potential　risks,　resistance　mechanisms,　and　inactivation　methods　are　reviewed.　Contributions　from　key　countries/institutions/journals/authors　are　also　examined.　More　importantly,　overlooked　issues　like　CRB’s　impact　on　taste　and　odor　(T&O)　issues　in　water　and　their　molecular　resistance　mechanisms　are　also　highlighted.　The　identification　of　these　gaps　in　CRB　research　motivates　further　studies　on　their　hazards,　intrinsic　mechanisms　and　control,　which　would　hopefully　help　with　the　delivery　of　high-quality,　safe　drinking　water　worldwide.　©　2025　by　the　authors.