The need for new water cannons for the federal and state police of Germany was first discussed at the 2005 Innenministerkonferenz; some older Wasserwerfer 9000s, previously criticised for safety concerns,[3] were due to be retired following the 2006 FIFA World Cup that would take place across Germany.

[4] Following a tendering process by the Federal Ministry of the Interior's procurement agency [de], the contract to build these new water cannons was won by Austrian fire engine manufacturer Rosenbauer in 2008, and development of the Wasserwerfer 10000 commenced.

[5] The first prototype Wasserwerfer 10000 was handed over to the Federal Ministry of the Interior in 2009,[2] and the first production examples were delivered to state police forces in Hamburg, Berlin, Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg between 2010 and 2011.

The Wasserwerfer 10000 is built on the Mercedes-Benz Actros 3341 tri-axle truck chassis with an armored angular body, preventing rioters from climbing onto the roof and projectiles from damaging it, and is equipped with a polycarbonate shatter-proof windshield.

Three spray nozzles aimed with integrated closed-circuit television cameras and controlled by joysticks are positioned on the roof; two on the front and one on the rear of the truck.