A method and apparatus are provided for reducing quench water required by a wet electrostatic precipitator. The apparatus includes a wet electrostatic precipitator and an evaporator in flow communication with the wet electrostatic precipitator to evaporate at least one portion of bleed water discharged from the wet electrostatic precipitator into steam. The method includes directing at least one portion of bleed water discharged from the wet electrostatic precipitator to an evaporator and directing at least one portion of flue gas from a boiler to the evaporator. The energy of the at least one portion of flue gas is used to evaporate the at least one portion of the bleed water into steam. The steam is directed to the wet electrostatic precipitator. The at least one portion of flue gas is directed from the evaporator to the wet electrostatic precipitator.