Let's solve this problem step by step.
1. Understand the Water Budget Concept:
The water budget equation can be summarized as:
[tex]\[
\text{Water In} - \text{Water Out} = \text{Change in Storage}
\][/tex]
In this scenario:
- Water In is the precipitation the aquifer receives.
- Water Out includes natural loss and the amount of water that can be pumped.
2. Given Data:
- Precipitation (Water In) = [tex]\(20 \, m^3\)[/tex]
- Natural loss (part of Water Out) = [tex]\(2 \, m^3\)[/tex]
3. Balancing the Water Budget:
We aim to find out how much water can be pumped, which we'll call [tex]\(W\)[/tex].
The water budget equation, considering the aquifer's water storage doesn't change (i.e., balanced budget), becomes:
[tex]\[
\text{Precipitation} - (\text{Natural Loss} + W) = 0
\][/tex]
4. Plug in the Given Values:
[tex]\[
20 \, m^3 - (2 \, m^3 + W) = 0
\][/tex]
Simplify the equation:
[tex]\[
20 \, m^3 - 2 \, m^3 - W = 0
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
18 \, m^3 = W
\][/tex]
5. Conclusion:
The amount of water that can be pumped from the aquifer, considering the balance in the water budget, is:
[tex]\[
\boxed{18 \, m^3}
\][/tex]
So, the correct answer is [tex]\(18 \, m^3\)[/tex].
