Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Water shortages are increasingly shaping public health, livelihoods, and social stability across many regions. Although the planet contains abundant water, safe and affordable supplies are unevenly distributed. In many lower-income communities, families face dry taps or polluted sources while wealthier neighbourhoods and powerful users receive more reliable access. This imbalance is not merely the result of weather patterns; it is reinforced by decisions about investment, ownership, and political influence.

Efforts to address the problem often move slowly because influential agricultural, industrial, and energy groups oppose changes that could limit their access. Methods such as collecting rainwater and converting seawater can help in particular places, but they cannot by themselves ensure fair distribution. Lasting water security requires accountable public institutions, open decision-making, and policies that regard water as a shared necessity rather than a product reserved for those with greater power or wealth.

According to the passage, which communities are most severely affected by inadequate water access?

Correct Answer: Families in low-income communities that use comparatively little water

Explanation:

Step 1: Direct textual evidence from the passage
The passage explicitly states: "In many lower-income communities, families face dry taps or polluted sources while wealthier neighbourhoods and powerful users receive more reliable access."

Step 2: Analysis of the options
• Residents of affluent areas with dependable water services: Incorrect. The text highlights that wealthier neighborhoods receive more reliable access to water.
• Major commercial users with substantial water needs: Incorrect. The passage describes influential agricultural, industrial, and energy groups as having the power to protect and secure their access.
• People living in highly developed cities with advanced infrastructure: Incorrect. The passage attributes the imbalance to political influence and investment, favoring wealthier areas over lower-income ones.
• Families in low-income communities that use comparatively little water: Correct. These families bear the brunt of water shortages, experiencing dry taps and polluted sources despite being less powerful users.

Conclusion:
Based on the text, lower-income families are the most severely affected group due to systemic imbalances in investment, ownership, and political influence.