Intense summer rainstorms can result in short-term urban flooding, leading to localized groundwater level rise and subsequent floor cracking and leakage in basements. Rational control of the surrounding water level is crucial for addressing existing basement leaks caused by short-term urban flooding. In this study, a combined approach of interception and seepage control using waterproof curtains and negative-pressure wells is proposed. Four different scenarios were considered, and experimental and numerical investigations were conducted on a 1.2 m × 1.2 m × 1.1 m model. The study analyzed the influence of factors such as water content, pore water pressure, soil properties, waterproof curtain insertion depth, and length of the filter section in the negative-pressure well on controlling the upward water level in the basement.The results showed that the installation of waterproof curtains alone can impede rainwater infiltration into the basement, delaying its penetration by approximately 48 h. The combined approach of interception and seepage control outperformed the sole use of waterproof curtains, with the reduction in water level becoming smaller as the insertion depth of the waterproof curtain increased. The reduction in water level decreased at a slower rate with increasing waterproof curtain insertion depth. The recommended waterproof curtain insertion ratio was equal to or greater than 83.5 %, while the filter section length ratio in the negative pressure well should be less than 64 %. Compared to natural seepage drainage, negative-pressure pumping could maintain the basement floor's water content within the initial range 32 h earlier. The water-blocking and depressurization effect is best in sandy soil and worst in clay. Water-blocking and depressurization provide a new approach for controlling the uplift caused by summer urban waterlogging, especially offering a new method for controlling leaks in the basement.