One aspect of the invention relates to a method for removing contaminants from a flue gas stream (22). The method includes: removing fly ash from a flue gas stream (22) utilizing a particle collector (24); contacting the flue gas stream with an alkaline reagent in a wet scrubber (26); discharging a purge liquid (30) from the wet scrubber (26); and, combining at least a portion of the purge liquid with at least a portion of fly ash circulating within a dry circulating fluid bed scrubber (48) to form moistened fly ash (60).