Multiple Choice, Single Answer

Read the passage and answer the question.

Elevated water towers remain a common feature of rural and suburban landscapes despite advances in pumping technology. Their primary function is not simply storage but pressure regulation: by holding water at a height, gravity provides consistent water pressure to homes and businesses without requiring pumps to run continuously. This design also offers a practical safeguard during power outages, since gravity-fed water can still flow even when electric pumps fail. Additionally, towers allow utilities to store water during periods of low demand, typically overnight, and release it during peak morning and evening usage, reducing strain on pumping infrastructure. Some newer systems have replaced towers with pressurized underground tanks, but many municipalities retain elevated towers because retrofitting existing distribution networks would require substantial and costly reengineering.