To solve the problem, we need to determine how much water can be pumped from the aquifer while maintaining a balanced water budget.
1. Identify the total water input and losses:
- The aquifer receives [tex]\(20 \, \text{m}^3\)[/tex] of precipitation.
- The aquifer loses [tex]\(2 \, \text{m}^3\)[/tex] of water through natural movement.
2. Calculate the net water available for pumping:
- The amount of water that can be pumped should account for the water gained from precipitation and subtract the water lost through natural movement.
- So, the net water available is given by:
[tex]\[
20 \, \text{m}^3 \, (\text{precipitation}) - 2 \, \text{m}^3 \, (\text{natural loss}) = 18 \, \text{m}^3
\][/tex]
3. Determine the correct option:
- Among the options provided [tex]\(22 \, \text{m}^3\)[/tex], [tex]\(36 \, \text{m}^3\)[/tex], and [tex]\(18 \, \text{m}^3\)[/tex], the correct amount of water that can be pumped while keeping the budget balanced is [tex]\(18 \, \text{m}^3\)[/tex].
Therefore, the answer is:
[tex]\[
18 \, \text{m}^3
\][/tex]
