From the observation that water flows to low ground, this proverb means people or things tend to move toward the path of least resistance or a stable state.
環境が悪ければ人の行いも変わる——結局、水は低きに流るということだ。
If the environment is bad, people's behavior changes—after all, water seeks its own level.
社内の雰囲気が緩ければ仕事も雑になる。水は低きに流るとよく言われる。
If the company's atmosphere is lax, the work becomes sloppy. People often say 'water seeks its own level.'