Help understanding this part, and a malfunction

Hello,

I would like to understand what this plastic pipe at the bottom, and the attached shelf around it, are for. As its holder somehow broke and they both fell off.

In this very similar washing machine: https://elektrotanya.com/bauknechet_wat_uniq_642_aaa.pdf/download.html you can see them in the schematic at page 6, as 999-1 and 999-2. As I read, they are pin and cover, but cover for what? – It is just hanging there in midair.

The thing is, months ago the machine stopped taking softener from the dispenser, and recently it stopped working altogether due to a water level sensor issue. Now, I cleaned the air chamber of the level sensor (it was dirty, but not clogged) and temporarily returned that pipe (it would probably fall again as the holder is broken), and somehow both problems got resolved.

Is this part important?

Thanks in advance for any idea.