The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C11H11N3O2·0.25H2O, contains two independent organic molecules and a water molecule, which lies on a twofold rotation axis. The side chains of the two molecules have slightly different orientations, the C=N—N—C torsion angle being −163.03 (15)° in one and −177.52 (14)° in the other, with each adopting a trans configuration with respect to the C=N bond. In the crystal, molecules are linked into chains extending along b by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and in addition, four intermolecular C—H⋯π interactions are present.