In the title compound, [Cu(CH(3)CO(2))(C(12)H(11)N(2)O(4))(H(2)O)](n), the Cu(II) cation is tetra-coordinated by three carboxyl-ate O atoms from one 4-[N'-(2,4-dioxo-3-pentyl-idene)-hydrazino]-benzoate ligand and two acetate bridges, and by one water mol-ecule. The acetate bridges link adjacent Cu(II) cations, forming a chain. The crystal structure involves O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.