The title compound, [Co(H(2)O)(6)](C(16)H(12)O(6))·H(2)O, is composed of one 4,4'-(1,2-dihy-droxy-ethane-1,2-di-yl)dibenzoate anion lying on an inversion center, one [Co(H(2)O)(6)](2+) dicationic complex and a solvent water mol-ecule located on mirror planes. In the crystal, a chain is constructed via O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the carboxyl-ate and hydroxyl groups of the organic anion; the chains are further connected into a three-dimensional framework by additional O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the [Co(H(2)O)(6)](2+) cations, solvent water mol-ecules and the anions.