Well it was a couple years ago, but I do remember specifically that they didn't even call him. He actually realized there was no water before he discovered that his basement was damp and eventually figured it out. It could be that they knocked on his door, and; receiving no answer, assumed it was a leak.
Anyway this would be an easy question to answer if someone called a water utility and asked.
I was cleaning and fixing up a house after its owner had died. One of the first things I did was arrange to get the water turned back on, but it took two tries, because the first time the man who connected it turned it back off because water was running immediately--I had not closed the valve to the water heater which started filling.
Water Company Guy: "Just checking, we think there might be a burst pipe around here somewhere. Have you noticed some flooding?"
Your friend: "No. I'm just filling up my pool however, but everything is fine."
Company guy: "Ah, ok. Excellent. Have a nice day!"