Process for the production of ethylene from an ethanol feedstock that comprises these stages: a) dehydration to produce at least ethylene and water effluents, b) partial condensation of said ethylene effluent, c) separating phases of said partially condensed ethylene effluent to produce gas and liquid effluents, d) compression of said gas effluent to produce compressed gas effluent, e) washing said compressed gas effluent by contact with the recycled washing water of stage h) to produce washed gas and waste water effluents, f) absorption of said washed gas effluent by contact with at least an absorbent solution to produce purified gas effluent, g) distilling said waste water effluent and, jointly, said water effluent from said dehydration stage to produce at least gas distillate, liquid distillate, purified water effluent, and distillation residue, h) recycling, as washing water, at least a portion of said purified water effluent upstream from the washing stage e).