A French company building a turpentine distilling plant and the city of Springfield have reached an agreement for water service to the facility.

DRT and Springfield have entered into a contract for water and sewer use at the company’s location, but the agreement does not include the treated wastewater the operation will generate.

“We are guaranteeing a certain amount of water and DRT is guaranteeing they will use us for the 10-year term,” said city attorney Ben Perkins.

The agreement calls for Springfield to provide 63,900 gallons of water per day to start and the amount climbs to 201,800 per day by the 10thyear of the pact. In exchange for the city guaranteeing that capacity, the company will make fixed payments of $615,000 to reserve that capacity.

“This gives them some comfort that they can move forward,” said City Manager Brett Bennett.

Initially, the company likely will pay $8,626.50 a month for the water it uses and by the 10thyear, the monthly charge will be $27,243.

DRT, which broke ground on the facility earlier this year, is awaiting approval for its treated wastewater permit from the state Environmental Protection Division.

“That ball is rolling,” Bennett said.

DRT can renew the agreement for five-year terms.

The company plans on making a $40 million investment with its facility and employ about 40 people. Its plant in the Effingham Industrial Park will be its first in the U.S. The plant will take about a year to build, and the company has said it expects to begin hiring its workforce to train by the end of the year.