Drought-hit Barcelona to ease water restrictions after rains

Barcelona: Spain s Catalonia region said Tuesday it will ease restrictions on water use for Barcelona and its surrounding area after recent rainfall a...

Barcelona: Spain's Catalonia region said Tuesday it will ease restrictions on water use for Barcelona and its surrounding area after recent rainfall allowed it to lift a drought emergency.

The announcement comes ahead of a regional election in Catalonia on Sunday in which the ruling pro-independence ERC party -- which has faced criticism over its handling of the drought -- is trailing in opinion polls.

Catalonia declared a drought emergency in February after water levels at reservoirs in the Mediterranean region fell below 16 percent of full capacity following nearly three years of below-average rainfall.

The measure led to tighter water use restrictions for some six million people living in a wide area including Spain's second-city Barcelona, especially for crop irrigation, livestock farming and industry.

But recent rains in the wealthy northwestern region have boosted reserves to nearly 24 percent.