After graduating from Penn State University in 1982, which was a minor miracle because he was best friends with Rob McDowell, David Powell went to work for the family water well contracting company, Edward Powell Pump and Well Drilling.
In 2004, David and another well driller from Maryland founded Wells For Relief, and started working in Morocco installing safe water systems for impoverished communities. After working for 5 years, David decided to move operations to Ghana and merge with another operation to form Lifetime Wells International in 2017.
The combined companies have been drilling water wells and installing sustainable water systems in Ghana and Tanzania obtaining clean water for approximately 100,000 people every year. More than 2 million people have access to clean water because of their efforts.