ever considered it being mis quoted?
if the water "could" float to the top it would not have been sucked in by the pumps would it! How often do we argue the accuracy of news reports on this forum? How often are pumps installed at the top of tanks?
I am sure over the 20 years he worked on the ramp and seen or done fuel checks he would know where to look for the fuel.
Hotdog, maybe you should learn where it is sucked from and why the attitude of the aircraft could play a roll after fuel had settled for some time and not so quickly take news reports as gospel.
Jet pumps should remove water as it settles though. Once again I am sure there is many slices of swiss that would have to line up for this theory to be right!