What is the disadvantage of a salt water pool?

You are still typically using a salt-water generator to generate chlorine for most saltwater pools, so you are effectively still using chlorine. In effect, chlorine is still the sanitizer. You still need to pay for and haul salt and you typically need to replace a cell every 3-5 years at a cost of about $800. Then there are the potential harmful health effects of chlorine and corrosion to your pool and pool equipment.