AN A320 FLC RETURN LAND WHEN PAX NOTES FLUID; LATER IDENTED AS FUEL; COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE R WING DURING DEP CLB NEAR PXR; AZ.

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CLBING THROUGH 10000 FT MSL; OUR FIRST FLT ATTENDANT CAME INTO THE COCKPIT. SHE TOLD US THAT PAX ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT SAW SOME SORT OF FLUID STREAMING FROM THE BACK OF THE R WING. I SENT OUR JUMP SEATER (A COMPANY PLT) BACK TO LOOK AT THE WING AND RPT BACK WHAT HE SAW. HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A STEADY STREAM OF FLUID COMING FROM UNDER THE R WING. I HAD ALREADY CHKED THE ECAM FUEL AND HYD PAGES AND VERIFIED THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS COMING FROM THE R WING; I ELECTED TO TURN BACK TO PHX. WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 16000 FT WHEN WE TURNED AROUND. DURING THE DSCNT; ECAM GAVE US A LOW PRESSURE WARNING ON CTR TANK PUMP #1. WHEN I REACHED UP TO SHUT OFF THE CTR TANK PUMPS; I SAW THAT THE CTR TANK MODE SELECTOR WAS IN THE MANUAL MODE. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO CREATE THIS SIT. HOWEVER; WE WERE NOW COMMITTED TO RETURNING TO PHX. I HAD ALREADY TOLD THE PAX THAT WE WERE RETURNING DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FLUID LEAKING FROM THE R WING. I HAD NO CONFIDENCE THAT I COULD CONVINCE THEM THAT WE HAD FIXED THE PROB AND WERE SAFE TO FLY TO PHL. THIS NECESSITATED LNDG OVERWT (ABOUT 9000 LBS OVER OUR MAX WT OF 142198 LBS). THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL (LESS THAN 200 FPM ON CONTACT) AND WE TAXIED BACK TO THE GATE. NOW FOR SOME BACKGND INFO: DURING THE REFUELING PROCESS BEFORE PUSHBACK; WE GOT AN ECAM MESSAGE AND FUEL AUTO FEED FAULT AND INSTRUCTIONS; 'TURN ON CTR TANK PUMPS #1 AND #2.' THE MODE IS LEFT IN MANUAL. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN THE CTR TANK IS FILLED TO MORE THAN 550 LBS AND THE L OR R WING TANK HAS LESS THAN 11000 LBS OF FUEL. HOWEVER; WHEN THE FUELING WAS FINISHED; I FORGOT TO PUT THE MODE BACK INTO AUTO AS IS REQUIRED ANYTIME THE CTR TANK PUMPS ARE SELECTED ON FOR TKOF. THE AUTO MODE PREVENTS THE CTR TANK PUMPS OP WHEN THE SLATS ARE EXTENDED. ONCE THE ENGS ARE STARTED; THE PUMPS (WHICH USE FUEL TO COOL THEMSELVES) SEND THAT COOLING FUEL BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OUTER TANK. IF THE OUTER TANK IS FULL; THE FUEL SPILLS OVER INTO THE INNER TANK. IF THE INNER TANK IS FULL; THE FUEL HAS NOWHERE TO GO EXCEPT OVERBOARD THROUGH THE FUEL VENT SYS. IN OUR CASE; THE VENTING OF FUEL STOPPED WHEN THE TANK WAS EMPTY. THAT WAS WHAT TRIGGERED THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING ON CTR TANK PUMP #1. HUMAN FACTORS: I HAD A HEAD COLD AND WAS USING COLD MEDICATION TO CTL MY RUNNY NOSE.