Final answer:
During a long period of drought, the operation of a pumping well typically causes a fall in the water table due to reduced recharge and ongoing extraction of water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact on the water table if the pumping well operates during a long period of drought would generally be a fall in the water table. Because there is less recharge from rainfall during a drought, the water table does not receive new water to replace what is being removed. Therefore, intensive pumping during a drought tends to lower the water table even more than it would naturally fall due to the lack of rain. Additionally, overuse of groundwater during drought can lead to a depletion of an aquifer, resulting in negative consequences for ecosystems and human water supplies.