I have a mesh safety cover, but install a 10 mil black plastic cover underneath it laying on top of the water. An automatic cover drain pump sits on the plastic under cover. For the past 4 years I have opened to water that looks good enough to swim in (except for a few of those suicidal worms!).

My pool is a 33 x 18 freeform, and this solution is probably not practical for a pool much larger.

~Rick~