In the title complex, [Zn(C(10)H(6)N(3)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], the Zn(II) atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by two trans-positioned N,O-bidentate and zwitterionic 5-carb-oxy-4-carboxyl-ato-2-(4-pyridinio)-1H-imidazol-1-ide (H(2)PIDC(-)) ligands and two water mol-ecules, defining a distorted octa-hedral environment. The complete solid-state structure can be described as a three-dimensional supra-molecular framework, stabilized by extensive hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving the coordinated water mol-ecules, uncoordin-ated imidazole N atom, protonated pyridine N and carboxyl-ate O atoms of the H(2)PIDC(-) ligands.