It's very difficult to pump liquids up long distances. You can't suck liquids up more than 25 feet high, and while you can push it higher, you need a big pump and strong hoses/pipes, etc. Practically what you end up with is a series of smaller pumps. The water supply to tall buildings is a difficult bit of engineering on its own.

Anyway, the short answer is no, it's not at all easy to pump anything up 17 stories. You're talking about 8 or more pumps and appropriate hoses curling up the staircases, making them impassable... but people need those stairs.