Sorry if this has been said but,
Fallout 3 didn't have water activators (AFAIK) and you could activate and drink from it.
Maybe they'll just use the same system in Skyrim?

Possibly it's been said but thanks anyway, it is possible Beth will do something we didn't think about with the water this time around.

As for the funny comment earlier... (MUG XD...)
Fishing is NOT confirmed, everything, and I mean everything, in this thread is pure assumptions, nothing more.
You're right though, the title is misleading... If I could edit it I would.

The famous waterfall/rapid in the trailer is not actual water. It's a completely seperated animated mesh. It has zero transparency and zero reflections, which basically characterizes water.

That same waterfall is an activator
Though I'm more wondering about the basic level of water, how they will handle it.

What makes you think it's an activator?
I'm guessing it's a static object.

As for water in general being an activator, I doubt it. All activators are placeable, water is not. Since they've made a whole new engine for Skyrim, chances are that they also created a way to interact with it without the need for it to be an activator.

Assuming something is a great way to dash the hopes of some forum passersby. They tend to become the trolls who pop in just smack the game down a notch,because they read one assumed topic and that one thing meant the world to them. When you assume you make an ass out...well just be mindful of frail children who come back and say "Bethesda lied to me whaaa" because they read a presumption from a forum member.