To solve this problem, you need to determine how much water is available for pumping from the aquifer after accounting for the natural loss of water.
Here are the steps to find the answer:
1. Identify the total precipitation: The aquifer receives [tex]\( 20 \, \text{m}^3 \)[/tex] of precipitation.
2. Recognize the natural loss: The aquifer loses [tex]\( 2 \, \text{m}^3 \)[/tex] of water through natural movement.
3. Calculate the net amount of water available for pumping:
To find out how much water can be pumped, subtract the natural loss from the total precipitation:
[tex]\[
\text{Net water available} = \text{Total precipitation} - \text{Natural loss}
\][/tex]
Substituting the given values:
[tex]\[
\text{Net water available} = 20 \, \text{m}^3 - 2 \, \text{m}^3 = 18 \, \text{m}^3
\][/tex]
Therefore, the amount of water that can be pumped from the aquifer is [tex]\( 18 \, \text{m}^3 \)[/tex].
The correct answer is:
[tex]\( \boxed{18 \, \text{m}^3} \)[/tex]
