Final answer:
The Cloaca Maxima system in Rome was constructed in 500 B.C. as part of the city's sanitation infrastructure to convey waste to the River Tiber. It exemplified early Roman engineering skills and set precedents for future wastewater systems like London's 19th-century sewers. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cloaca Maxima wastewater conveyance system was constructed in 500 B.C.. It was an integral part of Rome's sanitation infrastructure, designed to carry waste away from the city and into the River Tiber. This system was an early example of the engineering capabilities of the Romans, not just in terms of sanitation but water supply as well. As Rome expanded, the need for a reliable water supply and a system to handle wastewater became paramount, leading to the construction of aqueducts and the Cloaca Maxima.
In terms of waste management history, the Cloaca Maxima differs from later systems, such as that of London, which saw massive development in the 19th century due to the Great Stink.
London's sewer system, engineered by Joseph Bazalgette between 1859 and 1875, was a response to the pressing health concerns of the time. It featured extensive underground brick-lined tunnels directing waste away from population centers, a concept still influential in modern sewer systems. While Roman aqueducts and the Cloaca Maxima did not treat the waste, they laid the foundations for the infrastructure that remains critical to urban living today.
Hence, option A is correct.