I live in Chicagoland and the mesh type I refered to is a 12x12weave material everyone uses here. I just now noticed a new cover on the net which is basically solid tarp. I place a large truck innertube in the center, cover the pool and wait till April to uncover it. In winter the pool collects at least 2 feet of snow, and for 4 years now I only drop water down to return, leave no tubing to the scupper, place a plastic shampoo bottle in the scupper for expansion.
I was only worried about the same thing, loads of weight and trying to pump in winter.