Oh yes, it can generate almost as high a chlorine level as you want. Just leave it on 100% and let the pump run. You'll get above 30 ppm.

I am comfortable with 2-3 ppm on my pool. I wouldn't risk 1 ppm. And I don't need more than 5 ppm.

My feeling, and I think I read this from Ben too...You're more likely to need a higher chlorine level at a public pool because you're dealing with alot of different people and the "stuff" they bring. THAT is the main unknown. A residential back yard pool mostly has the same people in the house using the pool, so you're not exposed to the different "stuff" as a public pool. Therefore you don't need to maintain such a high level.
Even at 3 ppm in my pool, I have yet to have any incidence of bad reactions, cloudy water, or algae, with all the neighborhood kids in my pool. Don't have any photos but the kids are so many you can just about walk on their heads from one side to the other, without getting wet.
Pools Rule!