One of the simplest repairs we had to complete for the city inspection, was the lack of a discharge pipe connected to the pressure relief valve on the water heater.  We went around to a few hardware stores and there were a few different styles and prices.  We only needed the cheapest one for a few dollars.  It consisted of cutting the pipe to the right length and then screwing it into the relief valve.  Pretty simple.  Here is a before and after.

Water Heater Before Pipe

Water Heater After Pipe

The pipe is really only there so if the relief valve opens, the scalding hot water will spray towards the ground instead of everywhere around chest height.