I'm sorry, but your team is misinformed. Water is a specific type of liquid that performs a unique function in digestion. All bariatric teams require 6 to 8 glasses of water every day for a reason. If you don't drink it, you can cause serious harm to organs that need it and are deprived of it if you don't drink plain water. Check with the American Bariatrics website, the FDA site, or any website that explains fluid intake after surgery. I have heard that popsicles are okay to count as liquid, but only as a small part of your fluid intake.
But each person's fluid intake need varies, so your best bet is to check with a licensed nutritionist or dietician. And keep track daily, in a journal, every substance you put in your body, and graph a corresponding weight fluctuation.
I know water is a contentious issue for many people, but it's pretty easy to meet your fluid goal if you measure it in advance, then pour out small amounts as you need them. In so doing, you can easily make it through the day.