In the title compound, {[Zn(C(10)H(8)N(2))(H(2)O)(4)](C(8)H(4)O(4))}(n), the Zn(II) atoms, lying on a twofold rotation axis, are bridged by 4,4'-bipyridine ligands, resulting in a linear chain along the b axis. In the chain, the Zn(II) atom adopts a slightly distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry involving four water mol-ecules at the equatorial positions. The noncoordinated benzene-1,4-dicarboxyl-ate anion, which is also located on a twofold rotation axis, bridges adjacent chains through O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional supra-molecular network.