Hot Water Heater -- can someone identify this small part?

[terri_w_857]

I had a new hot water heater installed about 18 months ago. It's working all right
but I found this small copper thing at the bottom of it. It's about an inch, maybe a little less.

 

[sarg]

Looks like a short length of copper pipe with a compression ring .... probably just cut off & left behind by whoever installed your new heater.

 

[terri_w_857]

Thanks