Seawater evaporation is the predominant method for global salt production, supplying over 300 million tonnes of sodium chloride annually. This review systematically examines foundational principles, calculation methodologies, real-world loss mechanisms, advanced pond geometries and materials, hybrid solar concentrator integrations, process monitoring and automation, seasonal adaptations, environmental and economic considerations, policy frameworks, and future research directions. Expanding upon classical stoichiometry, we present twelve rigorous approaches to quantify seawater requirements per tonne of salt, supported by case studies from five continents. Detailed analyses of pond liner performance, high albedo coatings, concentrator optics, and sensor-driven automation demonstrate pathways to reduce water demand from typical industrial values (32 - 37 m3/tonne) toward theoretical minima (28.6 m3/tonne) and beyond (20 - 25 m3/tonne). Environmental impact assessments, lifecycle cost models, and community engagement frameworks provide a holistic roadmap for sustainable saltworks design.
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