Removal of water in a vinyl chloride monomer purification system is achieved through (1) providing a distillation column for separation of a liquid admixture of vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and water into (a) an essentially pure vinyl chloride product stream and (b) a hydrogen chloride distillate stream; and (2) placing a drying system in fluid communication with the distillation column midsection at a connection point where the water is at sufficient concentration to provide a useful mass transfer flux of water from a withdrawn midsection stream into a drying agent.