Wild Water Park Rides Raise Safety Questions

As another school year winds down, the nation's water parks are filling up with children and adults seeking splashy thrills and relief from the summer heat.

The parks are increasingly popular, with more than 70 million visitors expected this year, according to industry estimates.

Visitors are lured by a new generation of extreme rides that are wet and increasingly wild. In fact, Six Flags Theme Parks will have 17 water parks open across the country this summer.

But as the rides become more extreme, many question the rides' safety.

Over the past three years, there have been an estimated 10 deaths at amusement parks and two at water parks.

"It's a big challenge," said Florida water park inspector Alan Ramsay. "And it relies on multiple eyes and multiple people to ensure the safety of the guests."

On San Diego's Mission Beach sits the Wave Loch, which pounds surfers with a 10-foot wave, fueled by 100,000 gallons of water. Only experienced surfers can ride it, as long as they pledge not to sue.

"This thing is radical," said Tom Lochtefeld, president of Wave Loch, Inc. "I mean, so you've got to sign your life away if you want to ride this thing."

In the Wisconsin Dells, visitors are drawn by thrills at Noah's Ark Water Park, billed as the largest water park in the country.

'Thrill Definitely Important'

"The thrill is definitely important," said Tim Gantz, the park's co-owner.

Noah's Ark recently unveiled its new $2.5 million nail-biter -- the Black Anaconda. It's the world's largest, fastest water coaster. The ride, which lasts less than a minute, is a quarter-mile-long and reaches speeds as high as 30 mph.

Black Anaconda riders are under constant surveillance by dozens of video cameras. If something goes wrong, the entire ride stops.

Some park operators are reluctant to install too many computerized safety devices. There is no substitute, they say, for human vigilance.

But water ride designers promise more thrills around the corner.

"The imagination is our limit," said Andreas Tanzer of ProSlide Technologies. "I mean, if we can think up a new design, if we can think it up and make it safe, it's gonna be out there."

ABC News' Barbara Pinto filed this report for "World News Tonight."