Question Statement:
Read the argument and determine the unstated assumption:
"Adopting precision drip irrigation across the river basin will eliminate the regional groundwater crisis, because drip irrigation reduces field-level water application by $40\%$."
Which of the following is an underlying assumption required for this conclusion to hold?
Options:
- (A) Farmers will not expand the total irrigated crop acreage or switch to more water-intensive cash crops after adopting drip irrigation (Jevons paradox will not occur)
- (B) Drip irrigation systems never experience emitter clogging
- (C) Groundwater is the only source of water available in the entire country
- (D) Rainfall will cease completely over the river basin