A new cadmium coordination polymer, [Cd(C(5)H(2)N(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(2)](n), possesses a one-dimensional zigzag chain structure built from Cd(II) centers bridged sequentially by pairs of O and N atoms of the 5-carboxyimidazole-4-carboxylate ligand. The Cd(II) center is in a distorted octahedral geometry, being coordinated by two O atoms from two coordinated water molecules [Cd-O = 2.322 (7) and 2.364 (7) A], and by two N atoms [Cd-N = 2.222 (6) and 2.232 (6) A] and two carboxyl O atoms [Cd-O = 2.383 (6) and 2.414 (6) A] from two 5-carboxyimidazole-4-carboxylate ligands.